The Alberta Land Institute sponsors and conducts research to support and enhance land use policy in Alberta. Our key areas of interest are:
There is a growing interest in establishing markets for ecosystem services in Alberta. Research in this area will focus on existing policies that both support and challenge the development of these markets. Engaged public discourse, backed by impartial research, will facilitate policy development in this area.
2) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: SOIL HEALTH
Regenerative agriculture, climate smart agriculture and conservation agriculture are management practices associated with higher soil quality. ALI intends to take stock of sustainable agriculture efforts in Alberta and their impacts on soil conservation in the province. Research will highlight ways in which the current regulatory and policy environment facilitates or hinders sustainable agriculture in the province. Working with producer groups, producers, government, corporations and other stakeholders, ALI will identify research questions to complement current work underway in the province.
3) LAND USE, RESILIENCE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Alberta experiences the highest rates of property loss due to disaster in the country. Climate change continues to increase the incidence of severe weather events - in particular, wildfires and flooding - and attendant exposure to risk for private owners, municipalities and investors. Building on the Institute's strengths in the area of land use policy, ALI will strive to develop a research program to improve resilience in Alberta's communities through better planning, regulation and decision-making.