June 2, 2009
Ontario has new ALUS support; Wins Award from Premier
A new Ontario-based multi-stakeholder group is hoping to raise the profile of ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) so it is adopted as a policy.
ALUS is a program that encourages farmers to conserve and enhance environmental qualities that exist on their land.
“For producers, it gives them an incentive for to engage in good stewardship,” said John Clement, general manager of Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO). “If they get a little funding, it’s amazing what they’ll be able to do.” He has been supportive of the program since the late 1990s when Keystone Agriculture Producers of Manitoba and Delta Waterfowl introduced the concept.
At present, the only on-the-ground presence of ALUS in Ontario is a pilot project and demonstration farms in Norfolk County. The Norfolk ALUS Partnership Advisory Committee has been active in promoting the program. Along with CFFO, Ontario Nature and Local Food Plus, the Norfolk PAC formed the Ontario ALUS Alliance earlier this spring. In addition to the founding partners, there are there were more than 70 groups at the initial meeting, including Delta Waterfowl and other conservation groups that have joined the coalition
Estimates have put the value of ecological services of natural areas at over $3,400 per hectare annually to the people of Ontario. But, the value of resource stewardship has yet to be formally capitalized. To stop the loss of wildlife habitat and natural areas, ALUS proposes to provide landowners with payments for the conservation and restoration of habitats on their lands.
“In Ontario, it seems to make a lot of sense,” Clement said. “We’ve got a lot of population pressure. There’s lot of areas that need a lot of work. Whether it’s preserving Carolinian Canada, or improving water quality, all sorts of things could work.”
Dr. Bob Bailey, Delta’s vice-president of policy, believes the alliance will create more awareness about ALUS, not only with the general public, but also with politicians. With agriculture and environmental groups being involved, it helps raise the profile of the program. “There is a consensus that ALUS is the right way to do conservation on private lands,” he said. With more public awareness, hopefully it will move us closer to making ALUS a reality in Ontario and across Canada.
ALUS received another boost when the Norfolk County pilot was recognized through the Premier’s Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Award in May. The program recognizes innovative agriculture ideas and programs in Ontario. One of the comments accompanying the award stated it served as a model that could be expanded across the province.
ALUS has already been adopted as a province-wide program in Prince Edward Island and other pilot projects are pending in other provinces.
For more information on ALUS....
For more information on the award
www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/premier_award/2008/events-brant3.htm
For more information on Norfolk ALUS Pilot Project & the Ontario ALUS Alliance
www.norfolkalus.com
Toronto NOW article Whole new field of vision, Wayne Roberts, April 14, 2009
www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=168991
Group wants to take ALUS province-wide
www.betterfarming.com/online-news/group-wants-take-alus-province-wide-2168