Government of Canada and Nature Conservancy of Canada protect fragile habitat on the Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick

TABUSINTAC, NB, March 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Tilly O'Neil Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi, on behalf of Canada's Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC) successful acquisition of three separate properties totalling 28 hectares of land in Tabusintac, New Brunswick, 50 kilometres north of Miramichi. This project was secured in part with funding from Environment Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program.

"The Government of Canada is committed to the long-term conservation of biological diversity and to working with partners, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, to protect Canada's natural treasures," said Mrs. O'Neil Gordon. "These properties represent an ecologically significant area that is home to many iconic species including the endangered Piping Plover.''

"These acquisitions mark another achievement under our government's Natural Areas Conservation Program," said Minister Kent. "With this investment, we are taking real action to protect and conserve our country's ecosystems and sensitive species for present and future generations."

The first property is 10 hectares and consists of forested habitat, salt marshes and sandy beaches. Shore birds feed and rest on the beach and in the property's marsh pools.

The second property obtained is eight hectares and consists of a small salt marsh and beach, and within the waters of Tabusintac Bay. It features salt marsh and sand dunes, which provide ideal nesting habitat for the nationally endangered Piping Plover.

The third property is 10 hectares and consists of forests, salt marsh and sandy beach with eelgrass beds just offshore. Large flocks of waterfowl congregate offshore, while Bald Eagles and Osprey cruise the open wetlands.

"The NCC wishes to thank the Government of Canada for making a difference in helping us protect this critical safe haven for the wide variety of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, including the nationally endangered Piping Plover," said Linda Stephenson, NCC Atlantic Region Vice-President. "Tabusintac is one of only two Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance in New Brunswick. These properties expand NCC nature preserves where we have been working since 1993."

The Government of Canada's $225-million Natural Areas Conservation Program is an important on-the-ground initiative that takes real action to preserve Canada's environment and conserve its precious natural heritage for present and future generations. It is through the ongoing contribution from all donors that we can ensure the protection of natural areas in Canada. As of December 2011, the Natural Areas Conservation Program has protected 327,757 hectares of habitat, which includes habitat for 117species at risk.

For more information and to view a backgrounder on this announcement, please visit the Web site of Environment Canada at http://www.ec.gc.ca/.                                                             

 

Please see the attached backgrounder or contact:

Adam Sweet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008

Environment Canada's Twitter page: http://twitter.com/environmentca

Environment Canada's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/environmentcan

(Également offert en français)