Table of contents

Important dates

Applications for the Rangeland Sustainability Program close on September 30 of each year.

Overview

Alberta’s rangelands provide many ecological goods and services that benefit all Albertans. Clean air, fresh water, food, timber, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, soil stabilization, pollination, buffering from extreme weather events like floods and fires, and carbon sequestration and storage are all direct benefits from Alberta’s rangeland. Rangelands also provide a sustainable and renewable source of livestock forage, contributing to the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers and supporting the foundations of rural communities in Alberta.

The goal of the Rangeland Sustainability Program (RSP) is to promote the conservation and long-term sustainability of Alberta’s rangelands and the ecosystem services these working landscapes provide to Albertans.

RSP provides funding for collaborative projects with partners and stakeholders across the province that:

  • support initiatives that Albertans and industry stakeholders implement related to sustainable rangeland stewardship
  • increase knowledge and understanding of rangeland management outcomes for long-term sustainability through research, education and tool development
  • support rangeland initiatives that help producers overcome barriers to stewardship of rangelands

Funding

Rangeland Sustainability Program grant funding comes from a portion of annual grazing rental revenue. The amount of money in the program will change each year as grazing rental revenue is based on a variable market-based rental (i.e. cattle prices). For more information on how the grazing rental rate will change, please see:

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must fall under one of the following categories:

  • academia and educational institutions
  • Indigenous communities
  • municipalities
  • non-government organizations registered under the Alberta Societies Act (ASA)
  • other non-government organizations (those that may not be registered under the ASA but are still considered not-for-profit)

Applicants cannot be individuals. Individuals may work with eligible applicants to develop projects.

How to apply

Step 1. Read these guidelines before applying

Funding themes

Projects that support one or more of the following priority funding themes will be considered.

  • Priority: Extension and education

    • Increasing knowledge and awareness to improve rangeland sustainability.
    • Increasing awareness and integrate new knowledge, tools and best practices into rangeland management for the benefit of rangelands sustainability.

  • Priority: Rangeland research

    • Undertaking new research that focuses on knowledge development and practice change leading to improved rangeland sustainability.
    • Supporting research that benefits Alberta’s public rangelands, including linkages between rangeland management and ecosystem services.
    • Supporting research for Alberta rangeland climate change adaptation and mitigation (i.e., carbon storage).
    • Supporting research for Alberta rangeland multiple use conflicts.
    • Supporting the application of knowledge, such as implementation of a new practice that will result in improved rangeland sustainability.

  • Priority: Overcome barriers to stewardship of rangelands

    • Projects that support development and implementation of adaptive management tools/beneficial management practices to integrate multiple use activities, and address emerging issues that have an impact on rangeland stewardship goals.

Project topics and costs

  • Examples of eligible project topics

    • applied research demonstrating adaptive range management practices
    • carbon sequestration research, extension and best management practices for rangelands
    • climate change effects and adaptation on rangelands
    • ecological restoration of native grasslands in areas of forest or brush encroachment
    • enhancement of existing tools, development of new tools, practices, or strategies for rangeland sustainability
    • grazing and timber integration
    • livestock producer education and extension
    • multiple use mitigation best practices on rangelands
    • predation and cattle loss
    • protection of species at risk
    • rangeland management and ecosystem services
    • rangeland reclamation and restoration research and training
    • rangeland stewardship and adaptation
    • rangeland wildfire resilience
    • recreation and rangeland interactions
    • riparian monitoring and management
    • wildlife, livestock, and rangeland interactions

  • Eligible project costs

    • costs related to extension – including newsletter development, signage, brochures or web content and upkeep, publication costs
    • materials and supplies for project implementation
    • project staff – salaries and benefits of project staff hired to develop or implement a project
    • office, travel and other expenses related to the project, including a portion of administration staff
    • projects may account for eligible costs as outlined in eligibility criteria, incurred within one year prior to grant agreement effective date

    Note: Only staff time and expenses outlined above directly related to the project are eligible.

  • Ineligible projects and expenses

    • activities considered to be statutory requirements for disposition management
    • any project directly or indirectly linked in reducing grazing rental
    • any project requiring ongoing maintenance, repair/replacement – temporary solutions needing active maintenance
    • costs for any activities where the primary purpose is to raise memberships or funds for the organization (such as open houses or media events)
    • payments for predator livestock death
    • purchase of land or conservation easement

Step 2. Complete the application package

Complete the Rangeland Sustainability Program Grant Application Form (PDF, 79 KB)

PDF form issues

Fillable PDF forms do not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. To fill in and save the form:

  1. Save the PDF form to your computer – click or right-click the link and download the form.
  2. Open the PDF form with Adobe Reader. Fill it in and save it.

Step 3. Submit the application package

Send your application form and any supporting information to [email protected]

Applications must be received by December 15 to be considered for funding within that same fiscal year.

After you apply

The RSP Application Review Committee will review eligible applications based on RSP objectives, the priority funding themes, and Government of Alberta priorities. Not all requests that meet the established review criteria will be approved for funding. Applicants may receive full, reduced or no funding for their projects. The department reserves the right to reduce the amount each applicant receives in order to stay within available program budget.

Applicants will receive written notification of the decision regarding their application by March 31. Grant agreements are developed following approval.

Reporting

Annual and final grant reporting will be required as part of grant agreement conditions. Reporting will inform the department on project status and project expenditures.

Contact

Connect with the Program Coordinator:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-0420
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Related

Public land grazing rent and assignment fee

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