Natural Advantage pilot project makes industry inroads

Producers take a fresh look at wildlife habitat

Producers find profit potential in wildlife habitat

Mapping technology drives new knowledge of wildlife habitat

A new era of value for wetland

Wildlife habitat takes on new value for these farmers

Natural Advantage pilot project makes industry inroads

Date posted: April 30, 2008

Response from Alberta producers to a recently completed Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) pilot project is a sign of growing interest in protecting and enhancing on-farm wildlife habitat.

Sixty-two Alberta farmers and ranchers have become a lot more familiar with habitat and biodiversity on their operations over the past year. These producers participated in Natural Advantage, a pilot project focusing on habitat analysis and management on farms and ranches.

"When we started this project, we didn't expect it to attract so much interest so quickly," says Kim Schmitt, project director. "But that's what happened. What we've learned sets the stage for this effort to be considered as a program worthy of 'scaling up' to meet what we see as a growing market demand."

Over the past year, DUC kept participants and others up to date with a series of newsletters and feature stories highlighting program progress. Included in this Special Report is an overview of the past year, including two newsletters - one introducing the pilot project to Alberta producers and another wrapping up the project by thanking participants – as well as a series of feature articles which discuss important developments.

Newsletters:

Feature stories:

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