Why Allow a Native Plant Rescue

A practical, low-impact, zero-cost benefit for Alberta developers and landowners.

The Alberta Native Plant Rescue Foundation (ABNPR) works with developers, landowners, environmental consultants, and municipalities to coordinate native plant rescues and seed harvests on lands scheduled for stripping, grading, or disturbance. Rescues occur only after all approvals, permits, and internal planning processes are complete, and before construction activities begin.

For developers, allowing a plant rescue provides multiple environmental and community benefits with no cost, minimal disruption, and no impact on project schedules.

Simple, Efficient, and Fully Managed by ABNPR

Supports ESG, Sustainability & Corporate Stewardship Goals

Native plant rescue strengthens a project’s environmental and community stewardship profile by:

• demonstrating proactive biodiversity stewardship;

• supporting pollinators and native ecosystems;

• contributing to community, educational, and Indigenous restoration initiatives; and

• helping preserve locally adapted native plant genetics.

Developers may also choose to publicly highlight their support for native plant rescue and ecological restoration — demonstrating practical environmental stewardship valued by communities, municipalities, and project stakeholders.

Zero Impact on Construction Schedule

ABNPR rescues occur only after the developer has completed all required internal planning processes and all municipal, provincial, and regulatory approvals have been issued.

Native plant rescues and seed harvests take place before equipment mobilization and earthworks begin, with clear rescue boundaries and exclusion zones defined by the developer.

Rescues do not interfere with surveying, earthworks, utility installation, environmental monitoring, construction access routes, or active construction operations.

The developer sets the schedule, access conditions, and no-go areas — ABNPR adapts to the project, never the other way around.

You Control What Areas Are Included or Excluded

Before a rescue is approved, ABNPR works with developers and landowners to identify:

• areas approved for volunteer access;

• exclusion zones and no-go areas;

• Environmental Reserve (ER) lands;

• wetland buffers and sensitive habitat areas;

• wildlife corridors;

• active work zones;

• future staging or equipment areas; and

• any locations the developer prefers remain undisturbed.

The developer’s site plan, safety requirements, and operational constraints determine the extent of the rescue — not ABNPR.

Volunteer Coordination & Site Safety 

ABNPR provides on-site volunteer orientation, safety briefings, attendance tracking, signage, flagging, hazard awareness, and coordination with designated site contacts.

Volunteers are required to review site rules, follow approved access restrictions, and acknowledge participation waivers prior to attending rescue events.

ABNPR coordinates volunteer participation and communication during rescues, while developers and landowners retain control over site access conditions, exclusion zones, and active work areas.

Volunteers Remove All Plants and Seeds — Not ABNPR

Developers sometimes assume rescued plants and seed must be transported, stored, or managed after a rescue event.

In practice, volunteers collect and take home the plants they personally rescue, volunteers collect and distribute seed directly, and partner organizations such as Friends of Fish Creek gather material for restoration and conservation projects. ABNPR itself does not retain, store, or redistribute rescued plants or seed.

This decentralized, volunteer-driven approach means there are no disposal costs, storage requirements, or ongoing material management responsibilities for the developer.

Supports Environmental Stewardship & Biodiversity Objectives 

Native plant rescues help reduce the unnecessary loss of locally adapted vegetation and preserve biodiversity that would otherwise be permanently removed during development. By salvaging native plants and seed before site disturbance, projects can support ecological restoration efforts, pollinator habitat, and long-term environmental stewardship within the region.

Participation also demonstrates a practical commitment to responsible land stewardship and community engagement without affecting construction schedules or creating significant additional workload for the developer. In many cases, rescued plants and seed are used in local restoration initiatives, conservation projects, educational programs, and native landscaping throughout Alberta.

Supporting Native Landscapes in New Communities 

Where opportunities exist, ABNPR also works collaboratively with developers, landscape professionals, municipalities, and restoration partners to help incorporate rescued native plants and locally adapted seed back into finished communities.

These efforts can include naturalized areas, pollinator habitat, stormwater features, educational spaces, native landscaping, and ecological restoration projects that help maintain regional biodiversity while strengthening residents’ connection to Alberta’s native ecosystems.

Creates Positive Community Relationships

Allowing a native plant rescue helps build positive relationships with local residents, conservation organizations, municipalities, and community volunteers. These events often generate strong public interest, positive social media engagement, and meaningful community participation while demonstrating that development and environmental stewardship can work together.

For many developers, plant rescues become a tangible example of corporate environmental responsibility and community partnership that can be highlighted in sustainability reporting, public communications, and stakeholder engagement efforts.

Rescued Plants Benefit the Entire Community

Plants and seeds collected through volunteer rescue efforts are redistributed across Alberta to support community gardens, pollinator and wildlife habitat projects, school naturalization initiatives, Indigenous-led restoration efforts, ecological restoration projects, and private native plant gardens.

Rescued native plants and locally adapted seed are also used in ecological research, public education, and long-term restoration work that supports regional biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

By allowing a rescue, your project directly contributes to preserving Alberta’s native plant heritage and supporting healthier local ecosystems and communities.

Want to Learn More or Request a Rescue?

Allowing a native plant rescue is one of the simplest and most positive environmental actions a developer can take. ABNPR is happy to meet with developers, planners, environmental consultants, and project teams to explain the rescue process, discuss potential opportunities, and review suitable sites.

We work collaboratively to ensure rescues are safe, organized, respectful of project timelines, and beneficial to both the community and Alberta’s native ecosystems.

To learn more or discuss a potential rescue opportunity, please contact us at developers@abnpr.org