Home
Federal government announces new initiative to conserve ecologically significant lands across Canada 
Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., March 14, 2007—On March 14, 2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a new government land conservation initiative that will see the conservation of 500,000 acres of ecologically significant lands across southern Canada.
Led by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), members of the Canadian Land Trust Alliance will work with landowners and communities to conserve critical lands nationwide. This initiative will build on the strong alliance between these conservation groups, a working relationship that has resulted in the conservation of millions of acres of endangered habitats over the past several decades.
“The beauty of this initiative is that it will help us leverage even more funds for wetland conservation," said Gord Edwards, Executive Vice-President, DUC. "As a conservation organization concerned with the accelerated rate of wetland loss across Canada, DUC is encouraged by the federal government’s leadership in designating these funds to private land conservation.”
The $225 million investment by the Government of Canada will be matched dollar for dollar with contributions raised by the partner NGOs.
When making the announcement, Prime Minister Harper said “This investment will result in the long-term protection of Canada’s natural treasures. We are taking concrete action to protect species at risk and their habitat.”
The key natural areas targeted for conservation through this program have been identified as priorities by DUC and NCC based on detailed scientific ecological assessments. They encompass key ecological regions across the country, including wetlands, coastal shorelines, prairie grasslands, central woodlands and mountain meadows.
For more information:
Leigh Patterson
Corporate Media Relations Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: (204) 467-3306
Email: l_patterson@ducks.ca
