The Government of Canada Invests in Community Action to Preserve Biodiversity in St-Simon-les-Mines

SAINT-SIMON-LES-MINES, QC, April 30, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) and Member of Parliament for Beauce, on behalf of Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced $26,610 in funding from the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) for Species at Risk for a project in the region of Beauce, Quebec.

The project, entitled "Protection and restoration of lands that are home to threatened species in a wetland area of Cumberland," carried out by the Association pour la protection des milieux humides de la Cumberland, has helped acquire 3,000 square metres of land to conserve an area that is home to the Common Nighthawk, a threatened bird species listed under the Species at Risk Act.

"Our Government is proudly supporting the preservation of our environmental diversity in the province of Quebec," said Minister Bernier. "Species at risk in Saint-Simon-les-Mines, here in the region of Beauce, will be better protected with this investment, which will further maintain the natural beauty of our region."

"This project is yet another example of how our government is committed to protecting Canada's rich biodiversity for future generations," said Minister Kent. "The Government of Canada is proud to support the environmental efforts of local communities through the HSP for Species at Risk."

"It is with enthusiasm that the Association pour la protection des milieux humides de la Cumberland receives the support of Environment Canada to acquire a private property and create awareness signs as part of the HSP for Species at Risk. This support will help consolidate the Cumberland nature reserve and allow us to provide greater protection to numerous species of special concern or threatened species in this area of ecological interest," stated the organization's President, Jean Poulin.

The goal of the HSP for Species at Risk is to contribute to the recovery and protection of species listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern under the Species at Risk Act.

The HSP for Species at Risk is administered by Environment Canada and managed cooperatively with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Parks Canada Agency.

More information on the Species at Risk Act and the Habitat Stewardship Program are available online.

SOURCE: Environment Canada

Mary Ann Dewey-Plante
Director of Communications
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)