The Alberta government recognized Earth Day April 22 by announcing $15 million to be available annually, over the next five years, for public and private land conservation projects.
The funds were allocated in the recent budget and will support the Land Trust Grant Program and the Land Purchase Program, according to an Alberta Environment news release.
The two programs are used to promote voluntary conservation of private land and to buy land the province considers to be of high conservation value.
Earlier this year, six different land trusts were granted $5.89 million for 22 different projects. They will help conserve more than 13,300 acres of land, said the release.
Land trusts use the money to buy easements or undertake stewardship projects.