In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Canadian rancher and conservation leader Brian Gilvesey about the ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) program, a farmer-driven initiative that pays landowners for producing ecosystem services like clean water, biodiversity, soil health, and carbon storage.

Brian shares his personal journey from raising Texas Longhorn cattle in Ontario to helping expand ALUS across 41 communities in North America, empowering farmers to take ownership of conservation without burdensome easements or government red tape. The program’s grassroots model gives communities autonomy to set priorities while attracting funding from corporations, municipalities, and nonprofits eager to invest in environmental outcomes.

Together, Tillery and Brian discuss how ALUS redefines farmers as solution providers—not just food and fiber producers, but stewards of landscapes that benefit all of society. They explore real-world examples, from buffer strips that recycle nutrients through cattle, to wetland restoration, pollinator habitats, and regenerative grazing pilots. Brian emphasizes the importance of valuing ecosystem services, keeping programs voluntary, and telling agriculture’s story in a way that reclaims the environmental agenda.

This episode highlights a new model of conservation—farmer-led, community-based, and market-supported—designed to reward stewardship, strengthen rural communities, and create a more resilient planet.

More about our guests: 

Bryan Gilvesy, Chief Strategy Officer at ALUS, Owner Y U Ranch.

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Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Ian Timmons, Beefy Meat Chips
• DeLinda Hicklen, Capital Farm Credit
• Todd Baughman and Katy Lewis