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Top: The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario announces $3 million in funding from the Southern Ontario Development Program that will see investment in maintenance work at up to 72 DUC wetland projects in Ontario
Bottom: Minister Goodyear (centre) and Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa (right) congratulate DUC Vice President Tom Worden following the federal funding announcement.
Federal government provides huge boost for wetland conservation in Ontario
72 DUC projects in Ontario selected for Southern Ontario Development Project funding
Barrie, Ont., November 24, 2009 — The federal government has made a major commitment for wetland conservation in Ontario by announcing up to $3 million in funding through the Southern Ontario Development Project (SODP) that will help Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) upgrade 72 projects throughout Southern Ontario.
“Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) maintains an extensive inventory of publicly-accessible wetland projects across Ontario,” said Jim Brennan, DUC’s Ontario manager of provincial operations. “This funding agreement enables DUC to maintain or replace existing water retention structures on wetland areas while maintaining the ecological benefits that these areas provide for Ontarians. Given the significant costs involved, DUC would not otherwise be able to undertake this large-scale updating without the federal government’s generous financial support.”
DUC wetland projects are designed to have a productive life of 25-30 years, and thus have to be periodically renewed. Many of the projects that will be the recipient of this funding boost have either surpassed or are approaching the end of their normal operational lifespan.
“DUC has been delivering wetland conservation programs in Ontario for nearly 30 years,” Brennan explained. “Partnerships with all levels of government have been paramount to the conservation of Ontario wetlands. This important federal funding initiative will provide continued ecological benefits to Ontario waterfowl, wildlife and people for generations to come.”
The 72 wetland sites are located all across southern Ontario, including Oshawa Second Marsh, the site of Tuesday’s announcement.
Because of its urban setting, Oshawa Second Marsh is a visible example of a vitally important coastal wetland within a large urban centre. It is one of the last remaining coastal wetlands in the GTA and provides critical benefits to waterfowl and other wildlife as well as the people that live there.
“This agreement showcases the effectiveness of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the ability of DUC and the federal government to maintain vitally important natural heritage features on the Ontario landscape,” said Tom Worden, DUC vice-president and Senior Ontario Director.
For more information, contact:
Lynette Mader, l_mader@ducks.ca
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel: 705-721-4444
