(left to right) Robert Sopuck, Hon. Stan Struthers, KAP general manager Yvonne Rideout, and Ian Wishart
Keystone Agricultural Producers and Delta Waterfowl were recognized as environmental trailblazers with a prestigious award from the Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development.
The groups were honored with a Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award in the area of Sustainability in Water Stewardship and Natural Area Protection for their innovative and successful Alternative Land Use Service (ALUS) pilot project in the Rural Municipality of Blanshard. The award was presented by Conservation Minister and Chair of the Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development, Hon. Stan Struthers, at a reception at the Delta Winnipeg.
“We are extremely honored to receive this award in recognition of the efforts to identify and protect lands that create environmental benefits for our entire province,” said Ian Wishart, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. “Farmers are working to enhance the environmental goods and services on their land such as waterfowl and wildlife habitats, clean water, flood control, and carbon sequestration—for the good of all citizens in urban and rural communities,” said Wishart.
“The Blanshard ALUS pilot project not only proved that farmers care deeply for the land and their communities but that they will respond very strongly to conservation programs that respect the culture of agriculture,” said Robert Sopuck, Delta’s vice-president for policy for western Canada. “The ALUS model has been proven to deliver real environmental benefits and now it is time to build on this success and expand ALUS in Manitoba and across Canada.”
The made-in-Manitoba environmental program is voluntary and incentive-based, and the first pilot project was launched in Manitoba in November 2005. Pilot projects have been adapted for use in Prince Edward Island and Ontario (Norfolk County). KAP and Delta Waterfowl have forged a strong partnership on ALUS, and will continue to work on their commitments to sustainability through efforts in the future.
