The Government of Canada invests in migratory birds and their habitat

New Brunswick environmental group receives $125,000 from the Environmental Damages Fund

FREDERICTON, Oct. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Migratory birds are a vital part of our Canadian environment. They play an important role by eating insects, dispersing seeds and pollinating plants. Their natural beauty and seasonal migrations are integral to Canada's heritage.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, today announced that Nature NB has received $125,000 through the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund. The funding will support a project to carry out research on migratory bird migration and will help to raise public awareness about the importance of migratory birds in Southern New Brunswick.

Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund follows the "Polluter Pays" principle and ensures that court-awarded penalties are used for projects with positive environmental impacts.

The $125,000 in funding was directed to the Fund from the total $750,000 penalty associated with a 2013 incident where more than 7,500 birds were killed after indirect or direct contact with burning natural gas from a flare stack at the Canaport LNG facility.

The court ordered that the penalty be used to promote the proper management, conservation and protection of migratory birds and their habitat.

Quote

"Canadians value nature and wildlife, and migratory birds are an important part of what makes Canada beautiful. Supporting projects through the Environmental Damages Fund creates something good from a bad situation. These kinds of investments show the Government of Canada's commitment to support groups that are working hard to protect our ecosystems across the country."
– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• Nature NB will work with the Saint John Naturalists' Club to support and further the work of the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory and the Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch during their spring and fall migratory bird research programs along the Bay of Fundy.
• The monitoring will involve watching and recording migratory birds and will generate important information that will increase our understanding of migratory patterns and help in conserving migratory birds.
• Through presentations and workshops, the project will also identify and raise awareness about the importance of the protection of migratory birds and their habitats.
• The Environmental Damages Fund ensures that funds are invested primarily in project activities that relate as closely as possible to the original incident in terms of resources damaged and geographic location.

Associated link

Further information may be found at the Environmental Damages Fund website.

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page
Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Caitlin Workman, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-9436; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)