Our Story

The Alberta Native Plant Rescue Foundation (ABNPR Foundation) was founded in 2022 to address a simple challenge: native plants and locally adapted seed are often lost during development, while restoration projects, conservation organizations, schools, and community groups struggle to obtain appropriate plant material.

Working collaboratively with developers, landowners, municipalities, Indigenous communities, conservation organizations, restoration practitioners, and volunteers, we rescue native plants and seed before they are lost and relocate them to projects where they can continue to grow, reproduce, and support biodiversity.

What began as a volunteer effort has grown into a province-wide network dedicated to conserving Alberta’s native ecosystems through plant rescue, seed collection, education, and restoration initiatives.

Today, ABNPR demonstrates that development and conservation can work together, ensuring native plants, local genetics, and ecological value remain part of Alberta’s landscape for generations to come.

Our Vision

We envision a future where native plants and locally adapted seed are routinely rescued before development and used to restore Alberta's natural landscapes. A future where development and conservation work together, local ecosystems are valued, and communities actively participate in restoring and stewarding the landscapes around them.

Our Mission

To rescue native plants and locally adapted seed that would otherwise be lost to development and relocate them to projects that support ecological restoration, conservation, education, and community stewardship throughout Alberta.

Why Native Plant Rescue Matters

Native plants form the foundation of healthy ecosystems. They provide food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and wildlife, help maintain soil health, and contribute to the ecological character of Alberta's landscapes. Yet every year, many native plant communities are lost as land is developed and landscapes change.

Native plant rescue provides an opportunity to preserve this ecological value. By rescuing plants and locally adapted seed before disturbance occurs, these species can continue to grow, reproduce, and support biodiversity in new locations rather than being permanently lost.

Many rescued plants are already well established and may represent decades of growth and adaptation to local conditions. Relocating these plants and preserving their genetics can accelerate restoration efforts, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and improve the success of conservation projects.

Native plant rescue demonstrates that development and conservation do not need to be opposing forces. Through collaboration, ecological value can be retained, restored, and shared with future generations.

Our Goals

Community Stewardship 

The Alberta Native Plant Rescue Foundation is built on the belief that conservation is most successful when communities are actively involved. Native plant rescue provides an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate directly in preserving and restoring Alberta's natural landscapes.

Volunteers, families, students, educators, Indigenous communities, conservation practitioners, and community organizations contribute to plant rescues, seed collection, restoration projects, and educational initiatives throughout the province. These hands-on experiences foster a deeper understanding of native ecosystems while creating meaningful connections between people and the landscapes around them.

Looking Ahead

The Alberta Native Plant Rescue Foundation envisions a future where native plant rescue is a recognized and valued part of land stewardship across the province. As awareness grows and partnerships expand, we see opportunities to increase the rescue and relocation of native plants and seed, support more restoration projects, strengthen community involvement, and share knowledge that helps Albertans reconnect with their natural landscapes.

Looking ahead, ABNPR will continue to build relationships with developers, municipalities, Indigenous communities, conservation organizations, restoration practitioners, schools, and volunteers to create lasting ecological value from landscapes undergoing change. Through collaboration, education, and stewardship, we aim to help ensure that Alberta's native plants, local genetics, and biodiversity remain an enduring part of the province's future.

Every rescued plant and every collected seed represents an investment in future ecosystems. Together, we can create landscapes that are more resilient, more biodiverse, and more connected to the natural heritage of Alberta.