1. Good riparian management Financial benefits for the public
May 2018, 2018

2. Agriculture and ecosystem services
Farmers recognize:
Inter-connection with environment
Healthy land, healthy food
Commitment to decrease enviro impact
Notes: Canada-wide survey of farmers found they are committed to decreasing enviro impact
Major barrier: financial

3. Ecological land function as important as tractor
Healthy ecosystem services on agricultural land as important as tractors.

4. Survey: financial obstacles primary roadblock

5. Payment for ecosystem services (PES)
What? The benefits people derive from ecosystems.
Problem: Services (e.g. water filtration) lack markets
Principle: providers of services should be compensated
Users of services should pay
Not a new idea – payment for ecosystem services existed since 1880s.

6. Global PES schemes: 70
Idea is growing and taking hold around the world
As of 2004, 300 payment for ecosystem services around the world. Challenges: many are pilots and hadn’t operated long enough to collect data.

7. Beneficiaries study B.C.
Objective
Findings
Values range/distribution of eco services for Farmland Advantage
Understand who receives service benefits
Identify funders
8 riparian eco services assessed over 20 yrs.
As riparian habitat takes hold benefits reach over $2 million/year

8. Farmland Advantage approach
Contract farmers to protect /improve riparian areas on their own farms.
Farmland Advantage – approach formed by consultation with regional and sub-regional experts and farmers

9. Focus on riparian ecosystem services
Services at the transition b/w aquatic + upland habitats
Unique soil and vegetation
Heavily influenced by water
Among most productive ecosystems
Essential services for people, fish and wildlife

10. The 8 riparian services assessed
Water purification and waste treatment
Climate regulation
Recreational benefits
Water flow regulation
Species at risk habitat
Erosion regulations
Water purification & waste treatment: riparian buffers downslope from agricultural fields can significantly reduce the amount of pollutants entering streams
Water flow regulation: The vegetation and soils of riparian zones absorb floodwaters and slows their speed. Mitigates the impacts of extreme weather.
Erosion regulation: Stable, well-vegetated shoreline and stream banks critical to maintaining stream functions, reducing soil erosion and mitigating against storms.
Air quality regulation: Forests clean the atmosphere by intercepting airborne particles and absorbing pollutants In addition to the effects on human health, air pollution affects crops, climate, visibility and man-made materials.
Climate regulation: carbon sequestration and storage by regulating the gaseous portion of nutrient cycles that effect atmospheric composition, air quality and climate regulation.
Recreational benefits: farm tours, corn mazes, picking fruit and farm petting zoos Canadian Nature Survey estimated that 24% of households in BC engage in agri-tourism.
Species at risk habitat: British Columbia has the richest biodiversity of any Canadian province, yet over 40 per cent of our species are at risk. PES programs offer an effective solution for listed species at risk on agricultural lands (not protected by federal or provincial legislation). One of the goals of Farmland Advantage is to conserve and enhance species at risk habitat.
Aesthetic experience: greenway proximity results in higher property values. DFO study in Vancouver/Victoria. Homes in close proximity to riparian habitat were valued at 10 to 15 per cent more than comparable homes at a distance from such greenways.
Air quality regulation
 Aesthetic

11. FA focus: 3 BC regions
Farmland Advantage – model through 3 phases of work. Completed 2.
Focus now on restoration and conservation of riparian habitat in 3 regions of BC

12. Regional focus, regional funding
Target services:
Water quality/quantity
Biodiversity
Species at risk
Carbon sequestration

13. Next steps Support Farmland Advantage
Advocate for pricing mechanisms with governments
Refine studies for stronger business cases