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Project success a sign of growing producer support for wildlife habitat

Strong response by Alberta producers to a recently completed Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) pilot project is a significant sign of growing interest in protecting and enhancing on-farm wildlife habitat, says the project's director.

But Kim Schmitt believes the real success of Natural Advantage: The On-Farm Wildlife and Biodiversity Planning Service, a project designed to help producers protect and manage wildlife habitat, is that the pilot project has provided a solid foundation for the next generation of on-farm habitat planning services.

"When we started this project, we didn't expect it to attract so much interest so quickly. But that's what happened," says Schmitt of DUC, which managed the project with funding provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Greencover Canada Program.

"What we've learned in the process sets the stage for the next generation of efforts to meet what we see as a growing market demand. Ultimately, the thanks for that goes to the producers."

Participation in the project maxed out at 62 farms representing over 90,000 acres throughout Alberta. Schmitt says the results speak first and foremost to the willingness of producers to look at the attributes of their operations in a new way. "It is also a good indication that the program design and delivery was, in many ways, on track."

Natural Advantage was designed to help producers develop a more solid technical foundation on which to build progress and to link producers to the resources that could help them make changes identified in the process. Those responsible for designing the project set out to meet three key goals: develop an on-farm habitat and biodiversity planning process along with supporting communications and products; test the service on at least 60 farming operations; and issue a final report summarizing the experience.

The process, which was open to producers who had completed an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), began with an analysis and classification of habitat on the property by biologists from DUC. This was followed by a consultation with the landowner to identify opportunities. The final product for producers was a comprehensive written report based on the knowledge gathered, including resource materials and contact information to assist with implementing the report's recommendations.

The habitat classification process was based on a rapid visual-based system that employed geographical information system (GIS) mapping and aerial photography. "The goal was to develop a classification system that would be capable of assessing the major habitat types found on farms and ranches throughout Alberta," says Schmitt. "We wanted it to be a process that was relatively quick, objective, and most importantly, one that would result in valuable data that our clients could understand and relate to intuitively."

Producers who participated in the Natural Advantage project represented the broad range of farm sizes, farm types, and geographical challenges found throughout the province. "What's more, the majority of responses indicated that clients were most impressed with the information and professionalism of the final personalized report, with several saying that it exceeded their expectations.

"Not surprisingly, clients also liked the fact the service was free, but they also felt that the on-farm visits and dialogue were very beneficial aspects. The opportunity to recover costs for projects emerging from the on-farm habitat plan through the Canada-Alberta Farm Stewardship Program (CAFSP) was frequently identified as an incentive for taking action," says Schmitt.

"We are confident that what we have learned from this experience will serve as an anchor for the next generation of on-farm habitat sustainability in the province."

More information on the project is available in a series of newsletters available in a Special Web Report on the Meristem Land & Science Web site at www.meristem.com. Ducks Unlimited Canada is a private non-profit organization that supports the conservation, restoration and management of wetlands and associated habitats. These habitats benefit waterfowl, other wildlife and people.

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