Rural Residential Stewardship Program

Support for Small Landholdings

An initiative for acreage owners within the Biosphere who want to implement stewardship practices that conserve and protect the valuable natural assets, such as air, land, water, wildlife, associated with their properties.

Funding for Stewardship Projects

With funding from the Biosphere, and support and resources from the Green Acreages program, we are accepting applications from small acreage, hobby farm and recreational property owners to fund cost-shared, eligible stewardship initiatives on their properties.

Eligibility: To be eligible for funding under this initiative, acreage, hobby farm or recreational properties need to be within the portions of Lamont, Beaver, Strathcona, Leduc and Camrose Counties that are within or not more than six miles outside of the Biosphere boundary. Refer to the Beaver Hills Biosphere Story Map.

Funding: Eligible projects will be funded on a 25-75 cost-share basis up to a maximum of $4500 per project against cash expenditures with receipts. Property owners must contribute 25% of the total project cost in cash or in-kind value. Applicants are welcome to seek funding from other sources/other grants but cannot not apply for Green Acreages WRRP funding for the same project.

Types of Projects: Cost-share projects that help restore and/or enhance wildlife habitat and connectivity in the Biosphere. For example:

• Wetland enhancements, such as enhancing riparian and upland vegetation associated with wetlands
• Riparian zone enhancements through planting and buffers
• Use of native species in planting initiatives
• Restoring/enhancing native plant communities, including forested and meadow or prairie areas
• Projects that promote living with wildlife

Now accepting applications for 2025. Apply here.

Attend a Rural Residential Stewardship Workshop or Webinar

Watch for more workshops and webinars in 2025. Presented by Beaver Hills Biosphere with support from the Green Acreages program and resources.

If you have questions about the Rural Residential Stewardship Program, please contact the program coordinator, Milena McWatt at milena@landstewardship.org or 780-483-1885 extension 222.