When We Say Legacy, We Mean Legacy

For over 15 years, the Habitat Legacy Project (HLP) has made a lasting impact on conservation in southern Alberta. Although not in the spotlight as it once was, the project continues to make an incredible difference.

Initiated in 2008 through a partnership between ACA and Pheasants Forever Canada, HLP aimed to enhance upland game bird habitats, increase hunting access, and educate landowners. By building partnerships based on trust, the project has significantly improved over 1,200 acres of land through habitat enhancements—like planting shrubs, seeding perennial blends, and implementing best management practices on farms and ranches.

But, the impact didn’t stop there. “This project was truly a catalyst for numerous major initiatives,” says ACA senior biologist Layne Seward. “The relationships built with landowners and stakeholders have been crucial in advancing conservation efforts across Alberta, creating a ripple effect we still see today.”

Engaging landowners through workshops and community events has been paramount in fostering these relationships and spurring other successful projects—like 4-H Raise and Release, the Connectivity Project, novice hunts, and so much more—all while increasing public awareness and support for ACA's mission.

“So much enthusiasm was generated by HLP, and we can see how 15 years later, it continues to drive conservation forward in our province,” notes Seward.

Learn more about this project in the ACA Project Report: www.ab-conservation. com/hlp

photo: Participating landowner with ACA staffcredit: ACA