A FINANCIAL REWARD PROGRAM ENCOURAGING …MONTÉRÉGIE ALUS PROGRAM A FINANCIAL REWARD PROGRAM ENCOURAGING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FARMERS AND ENVIRONMENT César Largaespada, Biologist

MONTÉRÉGIE ALUS PROGRAM

A FINANCIAL REWARD PROGRAM ENCOURAGING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FARMERS AND ENVIRONMENT

César Largaespada, Biologist M.Sc.

Agri-environment officer

Montérégie UPA Federation

Haut-St-Laurent Union AGM

AGRI-ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS

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The Montérégie UPA Federation has been involved in different agri-environment projects for the past 15 years.

More recently:

• 2009 - 2018: Rivière des Hurons watershed project

• 2014 - 2019: Hazen-Bleury and Barbotte stream watershed projects

• 2015 - 2019: Baie Lavallière watershed project

AGRI-ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS

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• Improve the habitat of species at risk and water quality:

– Alleviate erosion problems by stabilizing and revegetating shorelines;

– Encourage new cultivation practices (ex.: cover crops, EGP)

– Awareness (meetings, workshops, site visits, info tools)

• Funding opportunities for farmers to implement agri-environmental projects.

General goals

ALUS CANADA

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• Founded in 2006 – Alternative Land Use Services

• Developed by farmers and supported by the community

• Rewards agricultural lands allocated to the production of ecosystem goods and services

• 20 communities in 6 provinces (including one in Québec)

• Approximately 10,000 ha of surface area rewarded (~$3.6 million)

MONTÉRÉGIE ALUS PROGRAM

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• Launched jointly in 2016 by the Montérégie UPA Federation and ALUS Canada

• Provides financial and technical aid and support for farmers

• Developments that improve water and air quality and promote biodiversity

• Minimum 5-year commitment from farmers

• 2nd year of existence and growth

• The Federation’s role:

– Selection and recruitment of participating farmers

– Technical support and project realization

– Search for financial partners

MONTÉRÉGIE ALUS PROGRAM

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• Headed by the Montérégie ALUS Committee, composed of farmers and other stakeholders (AEAC, Montérégie UPA, watershed authority) to:

– Establish the basis of the program

– Project selection

– Decision-making committee

PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS

Présentation / Section / Ville / 14 août 2014 7

1. Contact between the farmer and the party responsible for developing the project (ex.: AEAC, environmental organizations);

2. Submission of the Declaration of Interest form to: • Confirm that the project is eligible:

• Montérégie farmer, project type, etc.

• Collect the farm’s information • Describe the project and confirm the

number of ha to be developed • Confirm project funding sources • Form available on the Montérégie UPA

web site

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3. Project evaluation by the ALUS committee (April) • Project acceptance letter (or refusal) sent

4. Signature of the conservation contract 5. Technical follow-up with agri-environment officers to

verify project updates and confirm achievements

PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS

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PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

1. The applicant must be a farmer 2. The development activities must be located within the

Montérégie territory 3. Projects must be undertaken after (not before) they are

approved 4. The applicant must obtain the necessary permits and

permissions for undertaking the project 5. As appropriate, the area of ALUS rewarded land must be

beyond the distance stipulated in the Protection Policy for Lakeshores, Riverbanks, Littoral Zones and Floodplains (PPRLPI)

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Wetlands restoration

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Before After

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Pond creation

11 Pond completed in 2013 (Rivière des Hurons watershed project)

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

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BEFORE AFTER

Windbreak hedge

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

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Multifunctional windbreak hedge

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

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Shrubbery hedge

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

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Pollinator hedgerows

REVIEW OF COMPLETED PROJECTS

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Project Type 2016 (ha) 2017 (ha) Shrub and herbaceous hedges 0.12 2.29

Reforestation of wetlands 0.42 6.23 Windbreak hedges 1.48 1.45

Enlarged herbaceous shorelines for biodiversity 1.29 4.61 Ecosystem development 2.70 0

Total surface area 6 14.59

Rewards for 1 year $4,500 $10,943 Total rewards over 5 years $22,500 $54,713

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REWARDS

Rewards by surface area to develop (ha)

Ecological value Project category <0.15 0.15 to 0.3 0.3 to 0.5 0.5 to < 1 1 +

High Pond creation + vegetative buffer (trees and shrubs) 750 750 750 750 750

High Reforestation of wetlands with trees and shrubs 750 750 750 750 750

High Multifunctional windbreak (trees and/or shrubs) + pollinator hedgerow 500 650 750 750 750

High Multifunctional windbreak (trees and shrubs) 400 600 700 750 750

High Windbreak hedge (trees) 400 600 700 750 750

Medium Shrubbery hedge 300 450 600 700 750

Medium Creation of shrub and herbaceous flower meadow 300 450 600 700 750

Low Pollinator hedgerow expansion (herbaceous and grasses) NA 300 450 600 750

Low Creation of herbaceous flower meadow NA 300 450 600 750

MONTÉRÉGIE ALUS PROGRAM FINANCIAL PARTNERS

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• Program partner:

• Major partner Gold 2017-2021:

• Local partner:

MONTÉRÉGIE ALUS IN 2018

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• Underway: call for projects and farmer registration

• Online form: www.upamonteregie.ca/ALUS

• Submit the form to the agri-environment officers:

César Largaespada Agri-environment officer [email protected]

Yasmina Larbi-Youcef Agri-environment officer [email protected]

QUESTIONS?