Can you put a value on the watersheds and land in rural Alberta?
The answer to that question will be on the docket at the 23rd annual general meeting of Action for Agriculture, held on Feb. 15 at the Cochrane RancheHouse.
“We’re trying to start a conversation because Albertans need to realize these natural capitals are not a given,” said Harvey Buckley, a spokesperson for the organization. “They are depleting at an accelerated rate. We need to look at the big picture.”
The agricultural policy group recently completed a study of Alberta’s natural capital, described by Buckley as ecological resources — including land, water and air — that have economic impact. The study was based on southwestern Alberta’s Upper Bow River Basin.
The event will air Food for Thought, a video created by the group about the results from this study of the value of the watershed and what that means to both the agriculture industry and Alberta.
After the viewing, a panel of eight media representatives and landowners will discuss the findings, eventually opening the floor for a question and answer session. The four landowners — from Hill Spring, Cochrane, Picture Butte and Carstairs — were part of the making of Food for Thought.
“There’s an old saying: Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over — that’s getting to be true now,” said Buckley. “As Albertans, we need to learn how to manage our natural resources.”
The meeting is open to both members and non-members of the organization.
Held at the Cochrane RancheHouse, the meeting is slated to get underway at 1 p.m. Members get in for free, while non-members will be charged $25. For more information, or to register, call Harvey Buckley at 403-932-5561.
If you can’t make the meeting, the 35-minute long Food for Thought video can be viewed on the group’s website actionforagriculture.com.
