Aug 27 2014
Parliamentary Secretary Colin Carrie, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council announced today $3.4 million in additional support of 16 new North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) projects across Canada.
In partnership with organizations such as the Nature Trust of B.C., the Government of Canada implements the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) program. The goal of the NAWMP is to conserve the continent's important wetlands and related habitat for the benefit of waterfowl and other wildlife.
Partnership-based projects like these help to protect wetlands, restore wetland habitats that have been drained and maintain an accurate international inventory of priority wetland areas.
Quick Facts
- This announcement is in addition to the National Conservation Plan which is providing another $50 million over five years to restore wetlands.
- The North American Waterfowl Management Plan is delivered in British Columbia through the Pacific Coast Joint Venture (PCJV) and the Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture (CIJV).
- Wetlands generate $5 to $10 billion in economic benefits to Canadians each year. Wetlands also provide enormous environmental benefits to Canadians by protecting against floods, improving water quality, controlling erosion and supporting a host of recreational activities.
- In Canada, more than 200 bird species (including 45 species of waterfowl) and over 50 species of mammals depend on wetlands for food and habitat. Many of these are species at risk.
- As host to thousands of plant and animal species, wetlands are second only to rainforests in the level of biodiversity supported.
Quotes
"Building on the achievements of the National Conservation Plan, our Government is working with our partners to conserve and restore waterfowl habitats across the country through the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This successful collaboration helps sustain the habitat of more than 200 bird species and one third of our species at risk in Canada, ensuring a rich biodiversity for generations to come."
- Parliamentary Secretary Colin Carrie Member of Parliament for Oshawa and Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Environment Minister
"I am happy, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to congratulate the Nature Trust of British Columbia and all of our partners for their successes in conserving wetlands. Their efforts will help conserve the habitat of waterfowl and other wildlife across B.C., protecting and restoring priority wetlands and grasslands on the coast and inland in Kamloops, the Okanagan, Cariboo, Kamloops, the Kootenay and Vancouver Island."
- John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country
"The estuaries and wetlands of Vancouver Island are among the most biologically diverse areas in British Columbia in terms of their importance to migratory waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway as well as their significance to numerous other fish and wildlife species; including Species at Risk. The funding received from Environment Canada ensures that these areas are not only managed in cooperation with our partners such as Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Province of BC, but are also enhanced and restored for the benefit of waterfowl and other wildlife species. Environment Canada funding also supports the engagement of First Nations, local governments, stewardship groups and the public throughout Vancouver Island, the central coast and Haida Gwaii in implementing on-the-ground inventory, restoration and monitoring programs on these estuaries and wetlands."
- Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO, The Nature Trust of British Columbia
Source: http://www.ec.gc.ca/