The Value of Trees
By: Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society
Grant Number: 2019-15

The forested areas on lands are often overlooked for their values by many, but these forests and other treed areas often extremely valuable, holding values both in their ability to be sold as a product and through natural functions that trees can provide while living. This document seeks to introduce you to major values and to help realize the potential that is in these areas. 

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Lac La Biche Shoreline Management
By: Hutchinson Environmental Science
Grant Number: 2016-23

The Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) project for Lac La Biche was initiated in 2016 to respond to community concerns expressed by the Stewards of the Lac La Biche Watershed, over the health of the lake. This project characterizes the physical and biological features of the lake’s foreshore so that sensitive areas can be identified and subsequently protected during shoreline development. The SHIM methodology was developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in British Columbia, and while it has been successfully incorporated into land use planning for several lakes there, the Lac La Biche SHIM project will be the first example of its use elsewhere in Canada.

 

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Lac La Biche Foreshore Inventory and Mapping Report
By: Hutchinson Environmental Science
Grant Number: 2016-23

Lac La Biche is a large lake situated in the Boreal Mixedwood Ecoregion of northeastern Alberta. It has numerous bays and rocky offshore islands, as well as wide areas of shallow littoral habitat characterized by extensive submerged and emergent vegetation. The lake provides important habitat for many fish species, as well as colonial and migratory waterbirds and aquatic mammals. It supports sport and domestic fisheries and is a popular recreational destination for swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and nature appreciation.

In recent years, Lac La Biche has experienced declines in water quality and fish populations, leading to widespread blue-green algal blooms and fishery closures. The Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) project for Lac La Biche was initiated in 2016 to respond to community concerns over the health of the lake. This project characterizes the physical and biological features of the lake’s foreshore so that sensitive areas can be identified and subsequently protected during shoreline development. While this method has been applied to several lakes in British Columbia and successfully incorporated into land-use planning there, the Lac La Biche SHIM project, once completed, will be the first example of its use elsewhere in Canada.

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Rural Routes to Climate Solutions Podcast
By: Rural Routes to Climate Solutions
Grant Number: 2018-08

Farmers and ranchers can play a pivotal role in building the low-carbon economy of the future. Especially in Alberta, home to one-third of Canada’s agricultural land and two important carbon sinks—grasslands and the boreal forest. The wildrose province also has some of the best solar and wind power resources in Canada.

Climate solutions are often viewed as being an inconvenience to our everyday lives. But farm solutions are climate solutions and many of them have multiple concrete benefits that go beyond stopping climate change: improving soil fertility; creating new economic opportunities; protecting biodiversity; energy independence and building resiliency against droughts and floods. It is a win-win strategy.

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Determining the Value of Your Trees
By: Agroforestry & Woodlot Extension Society
Grant Number: 2019-15

The forested areas on lands are often overlooked for their values by many, but these forests and other treed areas often extremely valuable, holding values both in their ability to be sold as a product, and through natural functions that trees can provide while living. This document seeks to introduce you to major values and to help realise the potential that is in these areas.

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Sustainable Action Canmore Booklet
By: Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
Grant Number: 2017-24

The Biosphere Institute, in collaboration with the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, local REALTORS® and the Town of Canmore, created this booklet to help new residents of the Bow Valley take part in meeting the goals of Town of Canmore’s Climate Action Plan. Learn more about the Climate Action Plan goals here.

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The Alberta Water Nexus: Energy, Food, People
By: Alberta WaterPortal Society
Grant Number: 2016-20

Water is the nexus between food, energy, and people. Water is required to meet the demands of our growing population, to maintain and improve environmental health, and to support the production of food and energy. As the availability of water changes and our population grows meeting the demands in the Nexus will become increasingly challenging.

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Albertans’ attitudes towards a new park establishment in Alberta
By: Yellowstone To Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative
Grant Number: 2015-06

The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a joint Canada-U.S. not-for-profit organization that connects and protects habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive. They are the only organization dedicated to securing the long-term ecological health of this entire region.
There are many conservation initiatives underway in this vast region. One such initiative is to look at the establishment of a park or protected area in the area known as “The Bighorn”. This area is made up of many uses, including industrial (coal, logging), parks, wilderness areas and crown land. It’s an extremely important area for many reasons; habitat for grizzly bears and other large mammals and it is also part of the headwaters for the North Saskatchewan River –Edmonton’s main drinking water supply.
Y2Y contracted NRG Research Group and the Praxis Group to undertake a poll to gauge opinions and attitudes toward the establishment of a park in this area. Although Y2Y has no actual jurisdiction for park establishment, the information is being gathered to help decision-makers understand how the various options might play out.

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Albertans’ Values and Attitudes toward Recreation and Wilderness
By: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)
Grant Number: 2014-14

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern and Northern Alberta Chapters worked with the Praxis Group™ (Praxis) to undertake a survey of Albertans to better understand the public’s behaviour, attitudes and opinions related to outdoor recreation and use of public lands. The survey instrument was developed jointly by CPAWS and Praxis and reviewed by selected stakeholders in government, academia, nonprofit organizations and industry.

 

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A Sustainable Water Supply for Alberta: Managing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
By: Alberta WaterPortal Society
Grant Number: 2015-19

A nexus is the place where points intersect, linking many different parts of a system together. Water is the nexus between food, energy, and people. Water is required to meet the demands of our growing population, to maintain and improve environmental health, and to support the production of food and energy. As the availability of water changes and our population grows, meeting the demands in the Nexus will become increasingly challenging.

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Dynamics of Alberta’s Cattle Sector – Implications, Opportunities and Constraints of a Systems View
By: ALCES
Grant Number: 2014-09

This project was catalyzed by Operation Grassland Community, with a focus on building a dynamic simulator that could track cattle dynamics and explore alternative cattle production strategies in Alberta against a range of economic, social, and environmental factors. This report is a written summary that accompanies the Alberta Livestock Alces Online (ALAO) simulator (www.online.alces).

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Traversing Terrain and Experience: Atlas of the Battle River and Sounding Creek Watersheds
By: Battle River Watershed Alliance
Grant Number: 2014-04

The land that drains into the Battle River and Sounding Creek- these watersheds- provide a backdrop for the unfolding lives lived full of courage and tragedy, heroism and heartbreak. Over time, this landscape has witnessed the retreat of glaciers, Indigenous peoples and great herds of bison, the arrival of the Fur Trade and European settlers, the ploughing of fields, and the creation of modern cities. This book tells these stories, and many more.

Format: full hard copy available at AREF’s office

 

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Southern Foothills Community Land Stewardship Initiative
By: Chinook Institute
Grant Number: 2010-12

The Southern Foothills Community Land Stewardship Initiative is a citizen-based process to develop recommendations that will provide direction to provincial, municipal and non-profit land use planning and stewardship efforts, in order to protect and enhance the integrity of the Southern Foothills landscape of SW Alberta.

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The Living Home from Concept to Completion
By: Lethbridge College
Grant Number: 2008-04

The issues surrounding green housing, and the results of the household monitoring are summarized in this report. The project provided an occasion for public discussion on green building in Lethbridge, and an opportunity for students of Lethbridge College to engage in an authentic and practical experience applied directly to industry.

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Tunnel Mountain Bench Signage
By: Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance
Grant Number: 2010-13


Report on the completion of bike trail signage and mapping within the Tunnel Mountain Bench lands, which are adjacent to Banff National Park. BVMB is a volunteer group that has taken over management of the trail in close cooperation with Parks Canada.

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Long Term Sustainability Protocol Development
By: Foothills Land Trust
Grant Number: 2009-18

The Foothill’s land trust developed these materials to enhance a small land trust’s sustainability and operations. Templates developed include: (1) Policies and Procedures (2) Legal Defence Costs (3) Conservation Easement (4) Baseline Template (5) Baseline documentation. This resource is available as a hard copy in the AREF office.

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Greening Roofs in Edmonton
By: NAIT
Grant Number: 2009-16

Report on the results of testing on three green roofs established in Edmonton. The performance of plant species moderately affected by the depth of growth medium in which they were growing. All of the native plant species tested survived the environmental conditions experienced in a roof environment.

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Sustainable Action Canmore
By: Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
Grant Number: 2009-05

This project was a pioneering community-based program designed to foster sustainable behaviour among the Town’s households. Combining door-to-door canvassing with the tools of Community-Based Social Marketing, the program enlisted residents to take action in one of four domains: water use, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and transportation impacts.

*FOR UPDATED VERSION CLICK HERE*

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Recommended Standards and Practises for Alberta Land Trusts
By: Alberta Land Trust Alliance
Grant Number: 2009-03


Manual designed to address the needs of Alberta’s land trusts and to provide information for new land trusts. It supports the Canadian Land Trust Alliance’s standards and practises and has built in CLTA standards and practices. Modules include (1) Baseline Documentation Report (2) Stewardship Monitoring (3) Dedicated Stewardship Funding (4) Best Stewardship Practises (5) Beneficial Management Practises (6) Funding Development Guide.

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Conservation Brochure
By: Alberta Land Trust Alliance
Grant Number: 2009-03


The Alberta Land Trust Alliance (ALTA) is a not-for-profit organization that strives to ensure Alberta’s future landscapes are rich in biodiversity and have strong ecological integrity. The Foundation funded a series of factsheets on private land conservation in Alberta and the services offered by land trusts. Hard copy available in the AREF office.

 

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Sustainability Primer
By: The Natural Step
Grant Number: 2008-17

These latest publications offer creative methods to help municipalities, businesses and organizations find the balance between planning futures and protecting the environment. The Sustainability Primer offers strategies to difficult planning challenges, while Planning for Sustainability: A Planners Guide details the framework to develop strategic and sustainable goals.

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Planning for Sustainability – A Starter Guide
By: The Natural Step
Grant Number: 2008-17

These latest publications offer creative methods to help municipalities, businesses and organizations find the balance between planning futures and protecting the environment. The Sustainability Primer offers strategies to difficult planning challenges, while Planning for Sustainability: A Planners Guide details the framework to develop strategic and sustainable goals.

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Alberta Green Roof Conference
By: Alberta Ecoroof Initiative
Grant Number: 2008-03

The Alberta Ecoroof Initiative co-hosted a regional conference on green roofs in 2008 with the Calgary Zoo and various local organizations. One hundred delegates attended the conference representing a variety of industries including landscaping, architecture, roofing, and real estate and development. The conference featured speakers from Canada and the US on demonstrating the benefits of a green roof system, sharing information on challenges, and advancing an action plan to establish a local green roof industry through case study review, research and policy development. On June 10, 2008, 52 delegates participated in a tour of green roofs both old and newly established to demonstrate what has already been achieved in and around Calgary. The tour concluded at the Alberta Ecoroof Initiative demonstration roof at the Alastair Ross Technology Centre in the University Research Park.

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Stewarding Alberta’s Future Part 1 – Green Communities Guide
By: Land Stewardship Centre
Grant Number: 2007-17

The Green Communities Guide will be an essential tool to help elected officials, municipal planners, developers, real estate associations, stewardship groups and citizens develop strategies to conserve water, protect water quality, conserve valuable agricultural land, and protect critical open space and wildlife habitat. Through the guide, municipalities, stewardship groups, and developers will be informed about the innovative approaches other communities are taking to avoid, mitigate, or reduce the impacts of growth and development, to maintain the flow of ecological goods and services from their landscapes.

Grant #: 2007-17
Author: Land Stewardship Centre
Year: 2009
Format: full hard copy available at AREF’s office

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Sustainability at home – A toolkit
By: The Natural Step
Grant Number: 2007-07

Sustainability at home is a toolkit that helps homeowners understand how to apply sustainable development concepts to everyday household decisions The toolkit covers an explanation of sustainability; questions to ask while making household decisions; concrete and simple suggestions for every room in your house; renovations; resources for further information and idea and more.Designed for Alberta, this guide will be useful for REALTOR®S® to distribute to new and experienced homeowners alike.

 

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Green REALTOR® Program
By: Monica Pohlman
Grant Number: 2006-24

Given the recent surge of media attention and consumer interest in “green” opportunities and challenges, the Alberta Real Estate Association and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation commissioned research to better understand the implications for Alberta REALTOR®S®. Seven key trends were identified that make the business case for enhanced attention to green issues by Alberta REALTOR®S®.

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Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Urban Development: Toward Smart Growth in Calgary
By: David Co roux, Noel Keogh, Byron Miller and Jesse Row
Grant Number: 2006-20

This policy brief examined the most current and cutting edge research on sustainable cities. It examines the principles of smart growth as a sustainable approach to urban sprawl. 10 key actions are identified to move Calgary on the road to smart growth. This resource is available as a hard copy in the AREF office.

 

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Assessing the Proximate Value of Parks and Open Space to Residential Properties in Alberta
By: Alberta Recreation & Parks Association
Grant Number: 2006-05

The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) recognizes that the increasing urbanization of Alberta has significant implications parks planning, quality of life and economically sustainable communities. The premise, upon which the Proximate Principle is based, is that residential properties located near an amenity such as a park, open space or water way, will attract a higher capitalized value. Further, the higher capitalized value will result in incrementally higher levels of municipal property taxes, which when aggregated, are theorized to be sufficient to pay for the annual costs related to the development and maintenance of the amenity.

 

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Ecotrust Eco-Home Demonstration Project
By: Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
Grant Number: 2004-22

The Alberta Ecohome outlined four primary goals relating to the environmental performance of the home and the engagement of community groups, industry groups and the greater community. A. Design and construct an eco-demonstration home. B. Provide a platform for numerous collaborations and partnership in the community. C. Build the capacity of environmental non-government organizations (NGOs). D. Provide new opportunities to build awareness of energy efficiency and environmental options for new homebuyers and the community.

Grant #: 2004-22
Author: Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
Year: 2006
Format: hard copy

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SAIT Course Module: Alberta’s “Green” Building Programs and Initiatives
By: SAIT
Grant Number: 2004-07

This course was funded as part of the Albert Eco-Home Demonstration project and identifies the builder and renovator requirements for developing “green” homes. It also outlines the homebuyer benefits of each of the “green” programs and initiatives in Alberta, including: EnerGuide for New Houses, EnerGuide for Existing Houses, Built Green and R-2000. This resource is available in hard copy format at the AREF office.

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Urban Growth and Land Use Initiative
By: Canada West Foundation
Grant Number: 2004-05

The Urban Growth and Land Use Initiative is a part of the Canada West Foundation’s “Western Cities Project”. The report outlines the environmental costs of current development and highlights the potential econmic and environmental benefits of integrating natual features and ecological services into community design. The overall intent of the report is to encourage policmakers, the development industry , consumers and other interested parties to work together to enhance public policy. This resource is available in hard copy format in the AREF office.

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Consumer Receptivity and Environmental Performance of Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
By: University of Calgary - Faculty of Environmental Design
Grant Number: 2003-18

The purpose of the project is to enhance commercial REALTOR®S® understanding of the development potential around LRT stations for mixed use development/redevelopment and to enhance residential REALTOR®S® understanding of affordable housing strategies for first time buyers (starters) and mature buyers (finishers). This resource is available in hard copy format at the AREF office.

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Your New Home – A Guide to Healthy Living & Environmental Cost Saving
By: Green Calgary formerly known as Clean Calgary
Grant Number: 2001-34
Buying or Renting a New Home? Learn about improved home health and cost savings through energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water conservation and waste management. This guide will enable the reader to identify homes that offer a healthy living environment and below average operating costs. Included in the guide are checklists, websites and valuable information on assessing operating costs. The guide offers tips for assessing the health of a home and is a resource for both home owners and renters. More information can be found on the Clean Calgary website.

 

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