Contact information and access conditions for agricultural dispositions in Alberta are now available on the new Recreation access on agricultural public lands web map.
Can’t find what you’re looking for on the new map? Call 310-LAND (5263).
Introduction
Alberta has about 100 million acres of Crown land, including over 5 million acres of land leased for agriculture and held under agricultural dispositions. Agricultural dispositions involve collaboration between the Government of Alberta and the disposition holder to ensure that agricultural land use sustains environmental, economic and social benefits for the people of Alberta. Disposition holders are stewards of the land, and as such, they manage our land resources in a way that benefits us all. In recent years, as Alberta’s population has grown, there has been increased public interest in accessing agricultural public land for recreational use.
Recreational Access Regulation
Recreational access to agricultural public land is managed under the Recreational Access Regulation, which came into effect in 2003 to outline reasonable access for recreation on agricultural dispositions issued under the Public Lands Act, including grazing leases and farm development leases. Agricultural leases provide environmental, social and economic benefits to Albertans, including food production, habitat for wildlife and space for multiple-use activities. The Recreation Access Regulation considers both the needs of the leaseholder to protect the land and their livestock, and the desire of the recreation users for reasonable access. The regulation facilitates communication, cooperation and respect, and clarifies rules and responsibilities for agricultural leaseholders and recreational users regarding recreational access on public lands that are leased for grazing and cultivation.
It is a recreational user’s responsibility to contact the leaseholder and discuss the current conditions of access before arriving at agricultural public land. It is a leaseholder’s responsibility to allow reasonable recreational access. Both parties must work together to respect the land and follow the Recreational Access Regulation.
You can find leaseholder contact information and access conditions for agricultural dispositions on the Recreation access on agricultural public lands web map.
Learn more about leaseholder responsibilities for recreational access.
Learn more about recreational user responsibilities for recreation on agricultural public land.
Contact
To connect with one of our rangeland agrologists for further information about recreational access on agricultural public land in Alberta, see the contact list at: Land Management – Contacts.
If you have questions about access to agricultural public land for recreation, contact 310-LAND (5263).