Developing excellence in environmental innovation

Ecosystem services are the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. This includes such things as air filtration, water filtration, fresh water, energy, food, fibre production and recreation. These services are enhanced through the choices society makes regarding land use and management.

The development of solutions to the environmental problems is an opportunity for Alberta to position itself as a global leader. Therefore, focusing on developing environmental solutions and on enhancing ecosystems is a strategic area of priority for AI Bio since it assists the Alberta Government in:

• Achieving its objective to "green growth" and improve environmental outcomes,
• Providing a basis to support economic diversifications,
• Enhancing competitiveness opportunities for agriculture and forestry, and other managers of natural resources, and
• Branding Alberta as the leader in environmental management.

Click here for a video illustrating ecosystem services    
 

AI Bio's Projects, Programs and Initiatives

Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute - Ecosystem Services Assessment (ABMI)

The environment offers many natural services that are provisioning (example: food, fibre, fuel, water), regulating (example: water and air filtration, flood regulation) and cultural (example: nature recreation, wildlife viewing). By improving systems for measuring ecosystem services, we will better understand the impacts of development. ABMI has partnered with specialists to establish credible systems for measuring ecosystem service supply and demand. 

Click here to visit the ABMI website    

Bio-Resource Information Management System (BRIMS)

In 2012, AI Bio, Silvacom, and Green Analytics (part of the Silvacom Group) began working on the Bio-Resource Information System (BRIMS). BRIMS is a system that collates data and information on the biomass, carbon, water and wetland resources of Alberta, which will help to inform integrated management decisions throughout the province.

 Click here for more information   

Click here for Project Summary

Biological GHG Management Program

Partnering with Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, the Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation launched the Biological GHG Management Program in May 2012 fulfilling part of CCEMC's mandate of achieving reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and assisting Albertans in adapting to climate change. This program offers support for projects that will discover, develop and deploy technologies and strategies and demonstrate cost-effective ways and means to help meet Alberta's climate change strategy goal of reducing net emissions from the province by 50 Mt CO2e/yr by 2020. Read launch news release. Read the backgrounder.