Province moves to protect species at risk and their habitats

MNR News Release

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Proposals to increase understanding of Ontario’s woodland caribou and their habitat needs are among seven volunteer stewardship projects in northeastern Ontario to receive funding this year under the province’s Species at Risk Stewardship Fund.

Funding totalling more than $312,000 will support projects to implement recovery strategies for species at risk, track caribou using radio collars, undertake public outreach and education activities, and protect and restore essential habitat.

The $18-million, four-year Species at Risk Stewardship Fund is part of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ stewardship-first approach to species protection, and is available to landowners, farmers, Aboriginal peoples, academic institutions, industries, municipalities, conservation organizations, stewardship councils and others across the province for eligible protection and recovery activities.

QUOTES

“I’m impressed with the leadership and commitment shown by environmental organizations, the forest industry, First Nations and others in northeastern Ontario who are helping to protect and recover our most vulnerable species and their habitats,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield. “Working together we can reverse the rate of species decline in our province and ensure future generations enjoy and benefit from a healthy and diverse natural environment.”

“We’re encouraging the kind of volunteer stewardship activities that are vital to protecting essential habitat and green space,” said Nipissing MPP Monique Smith. “I’m proud of the great work being done by volunteers across northeastern Ontario to protect and recover species at risk and to keep others from becoming endangered in the first place."

QUICK FACTS

• In 2008-2009, 108 projects will receive close to $5 million in funding through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, focussing on outreach, recovery, and inventory and monitoring surveys.

• Ontario is home to more than 30,000 species, of which more than 180 are currently identified as being at risk.

• The range of the forest-dwelling woodland caribou, which was formerly found throughout most of Northern Ontario, has receded northward and today generally lies north of latitude 50 degrees, which runs east and west across Ontario, north of Sioux Lookout, Geraldton, Hearst and Cochrane.

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