Re: Losing prime farmland: Albertans are concerned, p. 28, Feb. 27 Gazette
While it is excellent to read in the Gazette that Dr. Brent Swallow at the Alberta Land Institute is measuring how Albertans feel about the conversion of prime farmland to other uses in Alberta, it is troubling to learn that in a recent 12-year period, more than 154,000 acres of farmland were permanently lost to food production, primarily in the rich soil zones in the Highway 2 corridor between Edmonton and Calgary.
His study found that this is an issue many Alberta residents care about.
It should also be noted that Albertans and their municipal governments are acting on their desire to conserve farmland and natural landscapes by creating, and supporting, regional land trusts.
Here in Mountain View County, for example, our local municipal governments are strong supporters of the Legacy Land Trust Society.
Legacy Land Trust was created in 2013 by landowners and residents to conserve and protect natural landscapes, water quality and agricultural lands.
From our office in Olds we work with local landowners to place voluntary conservation agreements on their property to conserve, in perpetuity, all manner of important features, from native rangeland, prime farmland to wetlands and forest stands.
Legacy has many land stewardship resources available to assist landowners in making decisions about their land.
As well, Legacy is developing an education and outreach program that can help communities guide development away from environmentally and historically important sites, and manage the impacts of growth noted by Dr. Swallow.
Several other community-based land trusts are now operating in Alberta, and together they have helped landowners conserve close to 45,000 acres (18,000 hectares) of donated or protected land.
Albertans clearly realize that our water, soil and natural landscapes are important, and they are ready to support initiatives that will conserve these valuable features of our province. If you would like to learn more please contact us at www.legacylandtrustsociety.ca or through our Facebook page.
George Green
Sundre
