CAYUGA, ON, July 24, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 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, today announced $35,559 over three years in funding for two new environmental projects in Cayuga, Ontario.
These projects will improve the habitat for several bird species such as the Great Blue Heron, Savannah Sparrow, Purple Martin, Spotted Sandpiper, Acadian Flycatcher and Prothonotary Warbler. Restoring wetlands and buffer areas and connecting streams and adjacent uplands will improve and enhance habitat for local species at risk. Also, removing invasive plants will mitigate threats to individual species at risk and their habitats.
The funds will support the Ruthven Park National Historic Site, which is owned by the Lower Grand River Land Trust Inc., a non-profit, non-government, volunteer-based organization committed to being exemplary stewards of the park's 1500 acres of land. The Ruthven Park includes about 950 acres of natural areas (provincially significant forests, wetlands, ravines and meadows), 490 acres of agricultural land, and the remainder of the property comprises the cultural area of the nationally designated historic site.
Quick Facts
- Since 2006, under the HSP, the Government of Canada has invested over $99 million to support over 1,550 local conservation projects, benefitting the habitat of more than 430 species at risk.
- This year, the Government of Canada is taking a number of actions under the Habitat Stewardship Program which include:
- Investing over $8 million over the next three years to support more than 80 new local conservation projects through the Habitat Stewardship Program's Species at Risk Funding Stream, which encourages voluntary stewardship actions to restore and conserve species at risk and their habitats; and,
- Investing almost $4 million over the next three years to support approximately 60 new local conservation projects through the Habitat Stewardship Program's Prevention Stream, which prevent other species from becoming a conservation concern.
- Since 2006, the Government of Canada has taken important steps to conserve and restore Canada's natural environment and help connect Canadians to its rich natural heritage by:
- Securing almost 4,000 square kilometres of ecologically sensitive private lands; and,
- Adding an area nearly twice the size of Vancouver Island to the network of federal protected areas.
- Non-governmental organizations, Aboriginal organizations and communities, individuals, businesses, community associations, and provincial/territorial and municipal governments are eligible for funding.
- The National Conservation Plan, announced by Prime Minister Harper in May 2014, includes $252 million over five years to support existing and new funding initiatives. It includes funding of $50 million over five years to support voluntary actions to restore and conserve species and their habitats.
Quote
"Our Government is proud to invest in habitat protection, here, around Southern Ontario, and across Canada. Our work together will deepen our connections to nature while protecting the abundance and variety of life that is part of Canada's natural heritage."
– The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and Member of Parliament for Haldimand — Norfolk
Related Product
For more information and to view a backgrounder on this announcement, please visit the website of Environment Canada.
Associated Links
More information on the Species at Risk Act and the Habitat Stewardship Program is available online.
Canadians can also learn more about the National Conservation Plan.
Environment Canada's Twitter page
Environment Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment Canada
Ted Laking, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Media Relations, Environment Canada, 819-934-8008
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