As the government works to meet the goal of conserving 30% of the country’s land and water by 2030, Canada’s Environment Minister has announced $89 million in federal funding for ten projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Steven Guilbeault unveiled the plan in British Columbia, where he said “the evidence of climate change is striking,” referring to extreme weather events including floods, droughts and “devastating” wildfire seasons.
“In an effort to reverse biodiversity loss across the country, we are doing it one step at a time, protecting prime lands and waters that serve some of the most important habitats for species at risk,” he said.
The minister added that the projects will also contribute to the fight against climate change.
Mr. Guilbeault announced at the conference in West Vancouver that about $50 million in funding is earmarked for major projects in the province. He went on to note that some projects have been in the works for some time and that the money has already been used.
“Often we work quietly with Indigenous organizations and nations behind the scenes, and then once the project is almost complete, we can make the announcement like we are doing this morning,” he said.
Among the funds already used is $37 million to the BC Parks Foundation, which it received through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund.
Andrew Day, the foundation’s CEO, said at the news conference that the project had “already protected” 30 sites, totaling about 4,000 hectares of private grasslands, forests and wetlands on Vancouver Island, the southern Interior and northern British Columbia.
Mr. Guilbeault indicated that this project also benefits several species at risk, such as coho salmon, great blue heron and other migratory birds.
He says the Nature Trust of British Columbia will receive $8 million to preserve 552 hectares of “carbon-rich ecosystems” and protect habitats including grasslands, forests and wetlands that are home to species at risk, including the western toad, grizzly bears and southern mountain caribou.
“In addition, the project will result in the creation of 11 new protected areas including forest, wetland and grassland habitats on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, in the East Kootenay and Cariboo regions,” detailed Mr. Guilbeault.
The Nuxalk Nation will also receive more than $4 million to protect land and animals in priority habitats, including the Great Bear Rainforest near Bella Coola.
Blair Mack, an elected councilor for the Nuxalk Nation, called the move “a small but important step toward true reconciliation.”
“The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund has provided the Nuxalk Nation with an opportunity to purchase private lands of cultural significance and bring them back under national control,” he said at the conference.
The federal government says other projects will be funded through the Smart Climate Solutions for Nature Fund. Announcements will be made in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec.