Caring for the land doesn’t end when a restoration project is finished. For farmers, protecting streams, wildlife habitat, and natural areas takes ongoing work year after year. Through the Agri-Ecosystem Stewardship Initiative (AESI), farmers are recognized and rewarded for that commitment.

In 2026, Coleman Meadows Farm voluntarily joined the program after being identified as a priority site. They worked with an advisor to assess ecosystem health and develop a plan for suitable Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs), followed by funded restoration work and annual verification, and received payments to support ongoing maintenance. Located in the Port Alberni watershed, Jennifer & Russell Dyson and the team at Coleman Meadows Farm are receiving an annual payment of $2,000 to maintain and protect valuable riparian and grassland habitat on their property. While the payment may seem modest, it recognizes something important: caring for the environment has real value and requires real effort.

The natural areas on the farm help support cleaner water, healthier wildlife habitat, and a more resilient landscape. Keeping these areas protected means ongoing management and a long-term commitment from the landowner. The AESI payment helps acknowledge that work and encourages stewardship beyond the life of the original restoration project.

Payment for Ecosystem Services programs like AESI are based on a simple idea, when farmers protect and care for natural spaces that benefit everyone, they should be compensated for their efforts. Annual stewardship payments help make that possible by supporting landowners who dedicate time, resources, and land to environmental conservation.

At Coleman Meadows Farm, the annual payment supports the protection of riparian areas and grasslands that contribute to the health of the surrounding watershed. By entering into a multi-year stewardship agreement, the farm has committed to maintaining these important ecosystem features. The arrangement provides certainty for both the landowner and the program, creating a framework for long-term environmental management and measurable ecological benefits.

Through this partnership, Coleman Meadows Farm is helping to demonstrate how incentive-based stewardship programs can support both environmental and agricultural goals. The annual $2,000 payment not only rewards responsible land management but also helps ensure that conservation investments continue delivering benefits year after year. Projects like this showcase how compensation can encourage long-term stewardship while creating healthier landscapes for communities, wildlife, and future generations.

Funding for this program has been provided by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.  The program is delivered by IAF.