News from August 2010

Community Forums on Red Deer River Watershed

August 26, 2010

In January 2010, following the successful completion of the State of the Watershed Report, the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance (RDRWA) began a public consultation process for the development of an Integrated Watershed Management Plan.

RDRWA wants to involve the community in the planning process, so they are holding a series of Community Forums on watershed health and invite you to participate.

The first three forums will be held in:

Sundre, Alberta
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
10 am – 3 pm
Sundre Arena, #1, 101 2nd Avenue NW

Red Deer
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
10 am – 3 pm
Quality Inn (North Hill Inn), 7150, 50th (Gaetz) Avenue

Oyen
Thursday, September 23, 2010
10 am – 3 pm
Oyen Seniors Centre, 219 2nd Street West

The same information will be provided at each forum so you can pick the location that best suits you. Lunch will be provided.

Everyone is welcome, but you must register by September 14, 2010.
Email: iwmp@rdrwa.ca
Phone: 403–340-7379

The forums will focus on watershed health indicators related to water quality and water quantity. There will be resource people to give short presentations and then you will have an opportunity to ask questions, make comments and take part in discussions.

If you are unable to attend, there will be other ways you can learn about the watershed and provide input.

A second set of daytime forums on land use and biodiversity will be held at the same locations in October, so please make a note of the following dates:

Sundre – Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Red Deer – Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Oyen – Thursday, October 28, 2010

The community forums will be followed by workshops where participants will “roll up their sleeves” and use information from the forums to set priorities for health issues in their part of the watershed. More information on the workshops will be sent out closer to the date. Mark your calendars now so you will be available to participate in these important workshops:

Sundre – Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Red Deer – Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Oyen – Thursday, November 25, 2010

If you need any other information, please email us at iwmp@rdrwa.ca or phone 403–340-7379. Check out the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance website in early September for more information.

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SNO Stewardship Forum A Success

August 10, 2010

Stewardship Forum 2010: International Year of Biodiversity

The Stewardship Network of Ontario (SNO) held its Annual Stewardship Forum on June 8th, 2010 at Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto. There were 57 people in attendance, including a stellar line up of speakers and members of the SNO Leadership Team.

This annual event affords SNO the opportunity to report back to the community on their activities. They are now sharing the results of the Forum in their final report. This report also includes the Power Point presentations given by the speakers, as well as a 2010 participant contact list.

Visit SNO‘s website for more information about the organization and to download a copy of the Stewardship Forum 2010 Final Report.

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New Process, Same Value for Farm EFP's in Alberta

August 4, 2010

Alberta farmers and ranchers who wish to complete an environmental farm plan (EFP) or update their existing one, will find that the process has been changed in the province. Program delivery is now coordinated through Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD).

That’s the only real EFP program change. Resource materials used and the technical assistance available to producers are the same. The reasons to complete an EFP are as strong and valid as ever and producers completing an EFP today join more than 12,000 Alberta producers who have taken those steps since the program’s inception.

“The EFP process is designed to be simple and straightforward,” says program spokesperson, Perry Phillips, who serves in EFP training and support and has worked with the EFP program over the past several years. The EFP is a voluntary self-assessment process for producers to determine strengths and weaknesses of their farming operation from an environmental perspective

To begin their EFP process, producers contact the ARD toll-free helpline at 310-FARM (3276). They will be referred to a Technical Assistant. A paper version of the EFP workbook and a new CD version are available free of charge. Producers can complete an EFP on an individual basis or by participating in workshops where available.

Producers learn the process and how to use the workbook to review all aspects of their operation and finalize their EFP. One of the first steps in completing the EFP is to assess the farm’s soil and site characteristics. Local qualified EFP Technical Assistants are available for assistance throughout the process.

Once completed, the producer has the choice to submit their plan to a qualified EFP Technical Assistant for a review and feedback. It will be returned with a letter of completion along with any suggestions for improvement.

“The EFP is designed to be a living document,” says Phillips, “built to be implemented continuously from one year to the next according to the priorities the producer has established. Updating on a regular basis makes sense. Recent experience shows producers have documented real progress using the approach of revisiting and updating the EFP.”

Producers understand the value of environmental progress, he says. Some complete an EFP because they want to confirm what is being done properly on their operations and to more clearly understand what is required to meet current standards.

In some cases an EFP are done for business reasons, to apply for support under various programs, or to build producer food branding efforts that meet specific environmental standards of production.

More information is available through the ARD help line at 310-FARM (3276) or on the Alberta EFP website at www.albertaEFP.com. A feature article on this topic is also available on the website.

For more information contact:

Perry Phillips
Training Specialist / EFP Support
Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development
Phone: (780) 636–3366

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2010 Canadian Land Trust Alliance Annual Conference

August 3, 2010

Connecting Communities to Conservation
Banff, Alberta
September 29 – October 1, 2010

The Canadian Land Trust Alliance invites all land trust supporters to join them in Banff this year for the fifth annual Canadian Land Trust Conference. It promises to be the best yet as they travel to Canada’s oldest national park to enjoy three days of learning, field trips and social events amongst some of the world’s best scenery.

There will be three days of land trust workshops and seminars with leading speakers from across North America.

The host group, Alberta Land Trust Alliance, promises to show delegates the best that western hospitality has to offer. Enjoy an all-day tour in Banff National Park where you will experience the sights and sounds of Canada’s first National Park and have lunch at the historic Num-Ti-Jah Lodge.

Join them at the Banff Centre for the most enjoyable and informative land trust event in Canada.

Visit the Canadian Land Trust Alliance website for more information, to view the conference program or to register for the conference.

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