Grasslands for Life

Grasslands for Life is a four-year pilot Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program led by the Milk River Watershed Council Canada to conserve 5,000 acres of native grasslands and 1,000 acres of riparian areas across the Milk River watershed. The program provides annual per-acre payments to participating landowners for measurable stewardship outcomes that enhance biodiversity, carbon storage, soil health, and water quality, while maintaining the economic viability of working ranch lands. Funding is provided by the Government of Alberta through the Ecosystem Services Grant Program.

Key Objectives

Maintain the ecological integrity of native grasslands and riparian habitats through voluntary stewardship agreements.

Support sustainable ranching practices that maintain or improve soil health, range and riparian health, water quality, and wildlife habitat.

Demonstrate a scalable, market-based conservation finance model that rewards producers for ecosystem service retention.

Eligibility

We are soliciting for landowners with grasslands, riparian areas, and wetlands in the Milk River watershed that would be interested in being a part of this project. Eligible lands are as follows:

• Only land that is deeded is eligible for this program, leased crown lands cannot be enrolled in this program. Lands with a conservation easement are also ineligible for this program.
• Land must be within the boundaries of the Alberta portion of the Milk River Watershed as defined in the 2023 Milk River Transboundary State of the Watershed Report.
• Native grasslands that have not been broken or disturbed; or have been restored back to native grasslands following such actions.
• Riparian areas and wetlands that are unaltered.
• A cap of one section (640 acres) for each landowner/manager can be enrolled.

All lands that are enrolled will be ranked by a set criterion that highlights the aims of the project. For example, lands will be ranked by their size, suitability for crop production, value as wildlife habitat, importance to preserving water quality, etc. The full criteria list (with all references) will be made available to each participating landowner to ensure transparency and fairness in the decision making if the program is fully subscribed.

Landowner Information

Land that is successfully enrolled will be eligible for annual payments for the 4 year duration of the program, April 2026-March 2030. It is a voluntary program, and there is no legal expectation of landowners to remain in the project for the duration of the 4 years. Trained Milk River Watershed Council of Canada staff and contractors will conduct annual surveys to ensure that the ecosystem services are being maintained or improved. Landowners will receive an annual report highlighting the results of the survey, containing information on rangeland and riparian health, as well as suggestions for BMP improvements /alternate approaches.

Annual payments for ecosystem services will be $10 per acre for native grassland/upland, and 15$ per acre for riparian areas and wetlands. For example, a landowner that enrolls one quarter section (160 acres) of native grassland upland for entire 4 years of the project will receive a total of $6400.

THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS SEPTEMBER 1st , 2026

If you have further questions, or would like to enroll in the program, please contact Tyler Eresman at tyler@mrwcc.ca or 403-647-4035. Please email the agreement found below to start the process.