Delta Waterfowl Applauds Alberta’s New Private Land Conservation Program

Small wetlands are identified in the plan as a key conservation need

EDMONTON, ALBERTA — The Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas has announced a new vision for working lands conservation in Alberta. The Private Land Conservation Program and Ecosystem Services Program will support new private land conservation by creating incentives focused on retaining key wildlife habitat such as wetlands in cropland and native grasslands.

“Landowners have been asking for a program that supports conservation while still letting them safely and sustainably use their lands,” said the Hon. Rebecca Schulz, minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “These new and improved programs will deliver greater environmental impact per dollar by aligning conservation outcomes with landowners’ needs and on-the-ground realities.”

The announcement today specifically references wetlands in cropland as a high priority.

“We are beyond pleased,” said Jim Fisher, vice president of Canadian policy for Delta Waterfowl. “We have had extensive dialog with key members of the Alberta government over the past four years about opportunities to engage private landowners in conservation in a new way — simultaneously highlighting the importance of small wetlands not just for ducks, but also for broader benefits such as water storage, water quality, and drought resilience. This announcement demonstrates the Alberta government is committed to new, bold action to address key conservation needs while working with farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.”

Alberta has been a focus for Delta’s work in recent years as the next place to export the Shallow Wetlands Incentive Program, a conservation approach developed as part of the GROW program in Manitoba. Delta’s vision under SWIP is to pay farmers a market rate to conserve shallow wetlands in croplands that are both critical to breeding ducks and most at risk to be drained.

Alberta plays a central role in sustaining North American duck populations. Historically, Alberta has been a core source of pintails for California and Texas and mallards for the Central and Pacific flyways.

Ongoing and persistent wetland loss is negatively impacting much of the Canadian prairies. Recent estimates show an annual loss rate of 0.88% of wetlands in cropland across the Canadian prairie pothole region. At this rate, an additional 35% of the remaining wetlands would be lost in 50 years without new tools and approaches.

“We look forward to working with the Minister and her staff to fully realize the potential of this announcement,” Fisher said. “We will be working closely with farm communities and local groups that will showcase a ‘Made in Alberta’ Shallow Wetlands Incentive Program.”

Delta would like to thank Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, the Foothills Foundation, and the Guilford Foundation, who have been important supporters of Delta’s work to find new solutions to conserve small prairie wetlands and critical waterfowl breeding habitat.

For more information on the program visit: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=93618929FB87F-CCF8-A5E2-EFF831B185C7EE6C or contact Jim Fisher at jfisher@deltawaterfowl.org.

Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group working to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.