Erickson, MB – September
22, 2009 – On behalf of Canada’s Environment
Minister Jim Prentice, Member of Parliament
for Dauphin–Swan River–Marquette,
Inky Mark, joined representatives from the
Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve today,
to celebrate the recent announcement of
funding to support Canada’s Biosphere Reserves.
The Government of Canada is providing $5
million in funding over five years to 14
of the 15 biosphere reserves in Canada and
the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association.
This funding will provide the Riding Mountain
Biosphere Reserve with $57,000 per year
through 2013.
“This funding commitment
reflects the importance the Government of
Canada places on protecting our rich biodiversity
across the country,” said Inky Mark “Canada’s
biosphere reserves are excellent examples
of community-based initiatives that protect
our natural environment while ensuring the
continued growth of the local economy in
an ecologically sustainable way.”
Ray Frey, Chair of the
Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve said “The
main goals of the Riding Mountain Biosphere
Reserve are building capacity, sustainable
development, and conservation of biodiversity.
The funding from Environment Canada will
help us to meet those objectives. Our aim
is to provide residents and visitors to
the Biosphere Reserve with good information
to enable them to have the opportunity to
make sound, sustainable decisions in all
aspects of their contact with the biosphere.”
The Riding Mountain
Biosphere Reserve was designated as a biosphere
reserve in 1986 by UNESCO. The core protected
area, Riding Mountain National Park, covers
some 3,000 square kilometres of mixed wood
forest, eastern deciduous forest, and rough
fescue prairie. RMBR also includes a Zone
of Cooperation which consists of the 15
municipalities that surround the Park, comprising
an additional 12,000 square kilometres.
"Our government
is proud to support areas so rich in lakes,
streams and natural habitat,” said Minister
Prentice. ‘’This biosphere reserve fosters
and encourages a sustainable community based
regional economy, with high biodiversity,
landscape, and social values, with Riding
Mountain National Park of Canada as a key
component. It is a special place where people
are encouraged to demonstrate better approaches
to conservation and sustainable resource
use.‘’
Biosphere reserves are
areas designated and recognized internationally
by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization) for demonstrating
practical approaches to balancing conservation
and development. Biosphere reserves are
comprised of one or more core protected
areas, a buffer area in which activities
compatible with conservation occur, and
a large area of co-operation where sustainable
resource management practices are promoted
and developed. The world network consists
of 553 biosphere reserves in 107 countries.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Federal Contributions
of $2,143,588 Granted to 40 Projects for
the Protection of Species at Risk Habitats
in Quebec
LONGUEUIL, Que. – 24
September 2009 – The Honourable Christian
Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government
Services and Member of Parliament for Mégantic-L’Érable,
today announced, on behalf of the Minister
of the Environment, the Honourable Jim Prentice,
a grant of $2,143,588 to finance 40 projects
for the protection of species at risk and
their habitat in Quebec. These funds are
drawn from the Habitat Stewardship Program
for Species at Risk.
Thirteen organizations
from the Montreal's south shore received
a sum totaling $926,409 for projects targeting,
among other things,the protection of the
dusky salamander, the channel darter, the
Western chorus frog, and the copper redhorse,
as well as wildlife sanctuary caretaking,
a sustainable management plan for Mont Rougemont,
and the protection and enhancement of the
Mount Saint-Bruno forest corridor.
“The Government of Canada
is committed to addressing Canadians' environmental
priorities and we are pleased to support
the community’s efforts to protect its environment,”
said Minister Paradis.
“Habitat conservation
and stewardship for species at risk in the
Appalachian Corridor area represents a key
issue,” noted Mélanie Lelièvre,
executive director of the Appalachian Corridor.
“This generous federal assistance will help
us achieve this important goal for biodiversity.”
In 2009-2010, the government
will invest 13 million dollars in various
communities across Canada through the Habitat
Stewardship Program for Species at Risk.
This Program contributes to the restoration
of endangered and threatened species and
other species at risk, while preventing
species from becoming a conservation concern.
The Habitat Stewardship
Program is a partnership-based conservation
initiative. It is managed by Environment
Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and
Parks Canada. It is one of the main components
of the federal program for application of
the Species at Risk Act.
Funding for these community-based
environmental improvement projects across
the country is provided through community
environmental action programs managed or
co-managed by Environment Canada. Community
groups are encouraged to become involved
in these programs.
For more information
on the Habitat Stewardship Program, please
visit Environ | ment Canada's Community
Action Programs for the Environment website
at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/pace-cape/Default.asp?lang=EN.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
