Canada Helping Colombia Respond to Climate Change

Canada to support ecological restoration of Colombia's national parks and protected areas

OTTAWA, March 25, 2014 /CNW/ - Parks Canada is providing international resource conservation expertise to Colombia through a project that will help Colombia's protected areas and people adapt to climate change. Funded under Canada's Fast-Start program, the project highlights the importance of protecting and preserving healthy ecosystems, which provide vital services like food security, clean air and clean water to communities. This project also helps ensure these communities are resilient and can adapt to extreme events.

The Government of Canada is providing $850,000 for this project whereby Parks Canada and Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, in partnership with the non-profit organization Patrimonio Natural - Fondo para la Biodiversidad y Áreas Protegidas, will help communities and ecosystems adapt to the challenges of climate change.

This collaboration between Canada and Colombia has already led to the development and implementation of strategies like watershed protection and mangrove restoration. This project will not only benefit Colombia; Canada and other countries worldwide will benefit from an improved understanding of approaches to the management of national parks and other protected areas.

Quick Facts

• Canadian-supported efforts under Parks Canada's leadership in Colombia are helping to reduce the influence of climate-related changes like flooding and decreased precipitation in Colombia's national parks.
• In six parks, including Chingaza National Park, which protects drinking water for the 8 million people living in the capital city of Bogotá, projects such as seedling propagation and tree planting are being implemented to maintain the health and resilience of park ecosystems.
• In Colombia, Chile and Mexico, ecological restoration activities were initiated to reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and human populations to climate change.

Quotes

"Our Government helping countries address climate change mitigation and adaptation challenges. Canada's Fast-Start Financing project in Colombia's national parks and other protected areas will helpthese areas continue to provide services that support food security, clean air and clean water for future generations."
Leona Aglukkaq, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

Related Products

Backgrounder

Associated Links

• Canada's Action on Climate Change
• Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia
• Ecological Restoration for Protected Areas: Principles, Guidelines and Best Practices, 2012
• Canada Supports Ecological Restoration of Torres del Paine National Park (2012)

SOURCE: Parks Canada

Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
1-855-862-1812
www.twitter.com/parkscanada