The City of Montreal wants to help save five animal and plant species in its region, by inaugurating a research fund.
Space for Life – the municipal organization that brings together the Biodôme, the Insectarium and the Botanical Garden – and its foundation are spearheading the project.
They hope to collect 1.5 million in three years to fund scientific work. The Port of Montreal has already promised to contribute $50,000. The City of Montreal will assume the administration costs.
“We are going to focus on five species at risk: wild leek – which is a plant species, wood turtle, monarch butterfly, copper redhorse and chorus frog,” explained Marie-Andrée Mauger, responsible for the environment on the executive committee.
“In urbanized areas, the pressure on fauna and flora is really important, so it is important that cities play a role in multiplying conservation efforts and actions,” she added.
The announcement was made as the COP15 on biodiversity will begin in a few weeks in Montreal.