Government of Canada invests in local conservation projects to protect species at risk and their habitat

OTTAWA, Nov. 9, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada's wildlife and biodiversity and supporting individuals and communities who are dedicated to helping recover Canada's species at risk and protecting their important habitat. Canada's goal to conserve at least 17 per cent of its land and fresh water by 2020 is one that requires action and support from all levels of government, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and individual Canadians.

Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced more than $9 million over three years to support 93 conservation projects. The Habitat Stewardship Program will fund 49 projects and the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk will fund 44 projects. These projects will protect species at risk and help restore their habitats across Canada, work with volunteer scientists and stewards, and engage Indigenous Peoples.

One Habitat Stewardship Program project being funded by today's announcement protects species at risk on farms in the Yukon. Led by the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, this project will protect the little brown bat, the olive-sided flycatcher, and the rusty blackbird, among other species, by developing management practices that support the recovery of these species.

Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk projects involve Indigenous Peoples and communities in the important work of implementing the Species at Risk Act. Indigenous communities in North Central Saskatchewan will receive funding support to document traditional and local knowledge of caribou through the Prince Albert Model Forest Association. The data provided will help with caribou range planning and woodland caribou stewardship and will complement the federal Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou.

The Habitat Stewardship Program and the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk are annual application-based conservation programs, which direct funds to individuals and communities that want to protect our environment and work on recovering Canada's land-based species at risk. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is responsible for funding aquatic Habitat Stewardship Program and Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk projects. The call for proposals for Habitat Stewardship Program and Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk projects for 2019?20 will be launched shortly.

Quotes

"I'm so proud to be partnering with individuals and communities who have joined the effort to protect species at risk and their habitats. Canadians know that only by working together can we protect our environment. By supporting the Indigenous communities already doing important conservation work, we're ensuring we have the comprehensive knowledge needed for the recovery of our species at risk. I'm inspired by the Canadians taking leadership to protect Canada's rich biodiversity today, for future generations."
? Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• Canada is committed to increasing the amount of protected and conserved land and fresh water from 10.5 per cent to 17 per cent by 2020.
• Between its inception in 2000 and March 2017, the Habitat Stewardship Program has supported over 2,800 projects by providing more than $185 million in funding, which is matched by at least 1 to 1 by recipients.
• Between its inception in 2004 to 2005 and March 2017, the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk has supported 950 projects by providing more than $39 million in funding, which is matched by at least 1 to 0.2 by recipients.
• The Habitat Stewardship Program has supported the legal protection of over 193,000 hectares of land between 2000 and March 2017.

Associated links

• Conservation funding success stories
• Habitat stewardship for species at risk
• Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk
• Species at Risk Act
• Species at risk public registry

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada