ALUS Norfolk Growing Ecosystem services on Marginal Farmland Casey - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ALUS Norfolk Growing Ecosystem services on Marginal Farmland Casey Whitelock Program Coordinator ALUS Norfolk alusnorfolk@alus.ca

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  Water Control  Habitat Creation  Sediment Capture  Riparian Buffer  Water Retention  Pollinator Habitat  Flood Control  Windbreak/Shelterbelt  Carbon Sequestration  Erosion Control  Biodiversity Enhancement  Soil Amendment  Air Purification  Water Purification  The list goes on...  Wildlife Corridor

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 3 rd 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 Contribution of the Alternative Land Use – Caitlin Paterson, University of Guelph 2014 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 – Farmlands Courtney Irvine, University of Guelph 2012 – Delta Waterfowl Foundation 2013

ALUS Norfolk is Generously Supported by: