Other Conservation Tools
Besides donating, selling or granting a conservation easement (either donated or paid) on private land, there are several other conservation tools being researched and/or implemented in Alberta. These tools are outlined in Alberta's Land Use Framework and include:
1. Conservation Offsets-are mechanisms that counterbalance the impacts on ecosystems that result from development activities on public or private lands by offsetting this impact with conservation activities undertaken on other landscapes. These could include conservation and protection, restoration, reclamation, creation or enhancement.
2. Transfer of Development Credits-A transfer of development credits (TDC) program allows municipalities to direct development away from areas they value for conservation, and towards areas that are better suited to increased urban development. It is a tool that can financially compensate private landowners (e.g., farmers and ranchers) for retaining the conservation value of their land, while providing developers an opportunity to go beyond existing zoning limits in areas targeted for intensive development by purchasing credits derived from the conserved land.
3. Conservation Directive-is a mandatory conservation tool that applies restrictions on surface use of public or private lands, without the consent ofthe landowner or disposition holder. Conservation directives can only be used if identified in an approved regional plan. Conservation directives are intended to be applied in situations where a priority conservation action is urgently needed and other tools are unsuitable or unavailable. If a conservation directive is expressly established, then the land title holder has the right to compensation equivalent to the decrease of market value in their estate or interest in land resulting from the conservation directive, as of the date the conservation directive becomes effective.
In addition, municipalities have tools that they can use to set aside lands. These include:
4. Municipal Reserves
5. Environmental Reserves
If you are a landowner, and want to contact your local municipality, click here and follow the instructions to find out how to contact them.