ALUS Norfolk Growing Ecosystem services on Marginal Farmland
Casey Whitelock Program Coordinator ALUS Norfolk [email protected] What is ALUS?
VISION • Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) has a simple, yet revolutionary goal…create a healthy landscape that sustains agriculture, wildlife and natural spaces for all Canadians. ALUS Principals • Community-developed • Farmer-delivered • Targeted • Market Driven • Voluntary • Integrated • Accountable • Science-based
Ecosystem Services
Habitat Creation Water Control
Riparian Buffer Sediment Capture
Pollinator Habitat Water Retention
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Flood Control
Erosion Control Carbon Sequestration
Soil Amendment Biodiversity Enhancement
Water Purification Air Purification
Wildlife Corridor The list goes on... Wetlands
Before
After Wetlands
Before
After 76 Wetlands created or enhanced
34 acres Tallgrass Prairie Tallgrass Prairie
245 Grassland projects 711 acres Reforestation Reforestation
287 Reforestation projects 573 acres • 154 Participants
• 926 Projects
• 1318 Acres and growing Science Driven
ALUS has supported 3rd party research on a variety of topics:
• Studies of Bobolink and Related Bird • Expansion of the Pollination Service Habitats on Agricultural Lands in Measurement (PSM) concept in Southern Norfolk County Ontario – Jon McCracken, Bird Studies Canada 2012 – Thomas Woodcock, Environment Canada 2013
• How Habitat Influences Native • Supporting Environmental Stewardship Pollinators in Intensive Agricultural and Livelihood Benefits in Ontario’s Landscapes Greenbelt: Assessing the Potential – Caitlin Paterson, University of Guelph 2014 Contribution of the Alternative Land Use Services Program • Community Composition Change of – Bruce Mackenzie, University of Waterloo 2008 Pollinating Insects on Farms Enrolled in Alternative Land Use Services Pilot • A Benefit Transfer Tool for Valuing Project in Norfolk County Nature’s Benefits to Society from ALUS – Courtney Irvine, University of Guelph 2012 Farmlands – Delta Waterfowl Foundation 2013 ALUS Norfolk is Generously Supported by: