Restoring Provincial Support for Perpetual Conservation Easements
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate to the Government of Alberta to restore policy support under the Private Land Conservation Program for perpetual conservation easements as a voluntary land stewardship tool, ensuring municipalities, landowners, and conservation organizations have access to this option where locally supported and aligned with environmental, agricultural, or community planning objectives.
WHEREAS conservation easements have historically been used in Alberta as a voluntary land stewardship tool to protect ecologically significant areas, agricultural lands, and natural heritage features;
WHEREAS perpetual conservation easements provide long-term certainty for landowners, municipalities, and conservation organizations seeking to preserve lands with environmental, agricultural, or cultural value;
WHEREAS municipalities rely on long-term land-use planning to manage growth, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship, which benefits from tools that provide lasting certainty on the use of land;
WHEREAS recent shifts in provincial policy, through the newly created Private Land Conservation Program, have reduced support for perpetual conservation easements based on the principle that land should remain available for future use; and
WHEREAS time-limited conservation tools can provide flexibility in land use but may not be suitable in all circumstances, particularly where long-term or permanent conservation outcomes are desired.
BACKGROUND:
Perpetual conservation easements have long been used in Alberta as a mechanism to conserve lands of environmental, agricultural, and cultural importance. These easements are voluntary agreements between landowners and qualified organizations that restrict certain types of development in order to protect identified values on the land.
A change to the Land Trust Grant Program, now known as the Private Land Conservation Program, has reduced support for perpetual easements, based on a preference for maintaining future land-use flexibility. While this approach emphasizes adaptability by allowing for term easements of up to 50 years, it may limit the ability of municipalities and landowners to secure long-term conservation outcomes where there is strong local support to do so.
Perpetual conservation easements would be voluntary and landowner-initiated. They would not restrict options on other properties. This resolution is about preserving choice for municipalities. Time-limited easements provide flexibility, while perpetual easements provide certainty. Municipalities and landowners should have access to both tools to reflect local priorities and the nature of the land being protected.
For municipalities, conservation easements can support broader land-use planning objectives, including protecting natural areas, maintaining agricultural viability, and preserving community character. They can also complement growth management by directing development to appropriate areas while conserving lands that provide ecological or cultural benefits.
Restoring provincial support for perpetual conservation easements does not require mandating their use. Rather, it would ensure that municipalities, landowners, and conservation partners retain access to this tool as one option among many. This approach respects local decision-making and property rights while enabling communities to pursue conservation outcomes that reflect their priorities.
This issue is relevant to municipalities across Alberta, particularly those experiencing growth pressures alongside the need to protect natural and agricultural landscapes. Providing access to a full suite of voluntary land-use tools supports balanced, locally informed decision-making.
The proposed resolution aligns with Alberta Municipalities’ broader interests in supporting responsible land-use planning, environmental stewardship, and ensuring municipalities have the tools needed to manage growth effectively.
ABmunis is preparing correspondence to the appropriate ministry.