Rangeland Sustainability Program (RSP) 2025-2026

Eligibility

The Rangeland Sustainability Program provides funding for collaborative projects with partners and stakeholders across the province that:

• remove barriers to successful stewardship so that rangeland managers can support economic, social and environmental outcomes on rangelands
• support research programs that increase knowledge and understanding of rangeland management to achieve long-term sustainability outcomes
• support education initiatives and tool development that allows Albertans and industry stakeholders to implement rangeland sustainability and stewardship

Eligible program applicants include:

• academia and educational institutions
• Indigenous communities and organizations
• municipalities
• Non-government organizations registered under the Alberta Societies Act (ASA)
• non-profit organizations (those that may not be registered under the ASA but are still considered not-for-profit)

Summary

The Rangeland Sustainability Program works to promote the conservation and long-term sustainability of Alberta’s rangelands and the ecosystem services these working landscapes provide. Alberta’s Rangelands provide many ecological goods and services that benefit all Albertans. Clean air, fresh water, food, timber, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, soil stabilization, pollination, buffering from extreme weather events like floods and fires, and carbon sequestration and storage are all direct benefits from Alberta’s rangeland. Rangelands also provide a sustainable and renewable source of livestock forage, contributing to the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers and supporting the foundations of vibrant rural communities in Alberta.

Funding for the Rangeland Sustainability Program grant funding comes from a portion of annual grazing rental revenue. The program budget changes annually as grazing rental revenue is based on a variable market-based rental (for example: cattle prices). For more information on how the grazing rental rate will change, see Public land grazing rent and assignment fee.

Program Documents
RSP Grant Application Form
RSP Project Eligibility Criteria
RSP Grant Approval Fact Sheet

Overhead

Overhead is not an eligible expense for this program.

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

This competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS. 

Full Application 

*The Applicant Information section of this application should be left for RSO to fill out during their review. 

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to RSO by September 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. 

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via email to FP.RSP@gov.ab.ca by September 17, 2025. 

RESOURCES  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be! 

 
Contact the following Research Service units for support with: 

Projects Involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). 

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage. 

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:  
Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.  

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.  
For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage. 

Research Data Management: 

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.    

EDI in Research: 

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.  

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). 

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Pre-Award Submissions: 

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application