Ecosystem Services Grant Program

Ecosystem Services Grant Program is sponsored by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Ecosystem Services Grant Program | Alberta. ca Conservation on private land Ecosystem Services Grant Program Private Land Conservation Program Program applications are open from June 1 to Sept 15 (11:59 pm MST). Be sure to review the program guide for detailed information.

Private land conservation supports natural landscapes that: sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations conserve ecological services that benefit the economy and human health reduce flood, drought, and erosion risks through health ecosystem The Ecosystem Services Grant Program is being piloted to help conserve ecosystems, support working landscapes, and ensure the continued delivery of essential ecosystem services for Albertans.

Through this program, the Alberta government provides funds to non-profit organizations and municipalities to support farmers' and ranchers' participation in conservation programs without requiring a perpetual agreement on their land. The Ecosystem Services Grant Program is administered by Environment and Protected Areas.

See the list of funded projects and project details in the Ecosystem Services Grant Program grant approval fact sheet . The goal of the Ecosystem Services Grant Program is to ensure that ecosystem services are sustained across the landscape, recognizing landowner needs and providing benefits for Albertans.

Starting as a pilot, the Ecosystem Services Grant Program will provide grant funding to eligible municipalities, non-government organizations and non-profit organizations for the delivery of ecosystem services programs over a 4-year period. These grants are intended to support direct payments to landowners for the ecosystem services they provide on their properties. Read the Ecosystem Services Grant Program fact sheet to learn more.

Ecosystem services refer to the extensive physical, chemical and biological benefits of healthy ecosystems that: support economic activities support the health and well-being of communities Ecosystem services provided by private land like healthy soil, clean water, wildlife habitat and pollinator attraction provide an array of benefits to our communities.

Ensuring sustained access to these services is the foundation of countless conservation and restoration programs worldwide. Landowners funded through these ecosystem services programs will sign agreements with the grant recipient; however, these agreements will not be registered on title and do not require landowners to commit to a long conservation term.

The program provides economic incentives for landowners to retain, improve and restore natural assets on the landscape that provide ecosystem services benefits. Program funding supports a variety of ecosystem services programs that provide financial incentives directly to landowners for the ecosystem services they produce.

Examples include but are not limited to: habitat agreements for maintaining wildlife corridors and critical habitat conservation agreements to support ranchers for sustainable grazing operations programs to support farmers for wetland stewardship on crop land programs that increase the adoption of best management practices to increase ecosystem services production improvement projects on landowners’ property, including existing lands with registered conservation easements habitat restoration on disturbed or cultivated land any other programs that provide landowner payments for the ecosystem services produced on their property Applicants to the Ecosystem Services Grant Program must be registered non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations registered under a government act, or municipalities within Alberta.

For-profit organizations or companies are not eligible to apply. Individuals and private enterprises are not eligible to receive direct funding under this program but are encouraged to participate and contribute to projects with eligible partners.

Landowners enrolled into an eligible third-party ecosystem services program funded by the Ecosystem Services Grant Program may receive 4 types of payments: Retention of intact native habitat – Payments to landowners to retain existing high ecological value and intact natural assets for the duration of the legal term agreement.

Improvement of intact native habitat – Stewardship activities that mitigate the impacts of human activity on an intact natural asset. New - Restoration of disturbed lands – Habitat restoration to convert disturbed or cultivated landscapes to a land cover that provides more ecosystem services and to retain the restored cover.

New - Ecosystem services enhancement of disturbed lands – Stewardship activities that will enhance (add, improve or retain) ecosystem services on disturbed or cultivated lands. Review the program guide carefully to learn more about the application process and to ensure eligibility. Applications are open from June 1 to September 15 (11:59 pm MST).

Download a copy of the grant application form to complete it. Ecosystem Services Grant Program Grant Application form Completed applications can be submitted to Ecosystem Services Grant Program at [email protected] . To learn more about the application process and to ensure project eligibility, contact the program at [email protected] .

All Ecosystem Services Grant Program applications will be reviewed for completion and eligibility: An internal review committee consisting of subject matter experts from within the Government of Alberta will meet with the program area to determine which projects best align with the Ecosystem Services Grant Program’s application selection criteria and priorities.

Recommendations from the review committee will then be submitted to the deputy minister for final approval. Supporting conservation in Alberta (June 2, 2026) Connect with the Ecosystem Services Grant Program: Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays) Private Land Conservation Program Drought and Flood Protection Program Conservation on private land Private Land Conservation Program