VANCOUVER, BC, July 18,
2024 /CNW/ - Conserving and restoring nature is
fundamental for capturing harmful greenhouse gas emissions by
pulling more carbon dioxide out of the air, while also safeguarding
the places and species that are part of who we are as Canadians.
The Government of Canada has
launched the largest conservation campaign in the country's history
in order to support meeting its emissions reduction targets and to
halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment
and Climate Change, announced $89.1
million for 10 greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects
funded through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. These
projects will take place in Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba,
New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec, and will aim to fight climate change
while benefitting biodiversity by safeguarding carbon-rich
ecosystems from destruction to keep carbon in the ground.
Minister Guilbeault was in British Columbia today to announce almost
$50 million for major nature
conservation projects in that province:
- The BC Parks Foundation: An investment of $37 million to protect approximately 4,000
hectares of private land and implement natural climate solutions,
avoiding the conversion of carbon-rich ecosystems across
British Columbia. The project will
take place in priority habitats, including grasslands, forests,
riparian areas, and wetlands in multiple locations, such as
Vancouver Island, the Southern Interior, and Northern British Columbia, benefitting several
species at risk.
- The Nature Trust of British
Columbia: An investment of $8
million to secure 552 hectares of carbon-rich ecosystems and
provide benefits for multiple species at risk, including the
Western Toad, the Grizzly Bear, and the Southern Mountain Caribou,
among others. This project will result in the creation of 11 new
protected areas, including forest, wetland, and grassland habitats
on Vancouver Island, the Gulf
Islands, the East Kootenays, and in the Cariboo Region.
- Nuxalk Nation: An investment of over $4
million for this Indigenous-led project that will protect
private land and implement natural climate solutions, avoiding the
conversion of carbon-rich ecosystems that would result in
greenhouse gas emissions, through land acquisition. The activities
will take place in priority habitats, including forests in the
Great Bear Rainforest near Bella
Coola. Species that will benefit include the Marbled
Murrelet, the Northern Goshawk, and the Grizzly Bear.
The Government of Canada is
investing heavily in nature-based climate solutions that restore
degraded ecosystems, create new protected areas, improve land
management practices, and achieve milestones, such as planting two
billion new trees. Activities supported by the Government of
Canada help mitigate climate
change, build resilience, improve water quality, and provide
critical habitat for Canada's
wildlife.
Quotes
"Nature is our greatest ally in the fight against climate
change. But nature needs our help. Too many of the precious and
beautiful ecosystems that we hold dear as Canadians are under
threat and need protection. Our Government has launched the largest
conservation campaign in Canada's
history, with a goal of reversing biodiversity loss and protecting
30 percent of land and water by 2030. We're working with partners
of all kinds across the country to protect these carbon-rich
landscapes to save critical habitat and get us closer to our
climate goals."
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and
Climate Change
"Protecting nature is one of the most effective tools we have to
prevent climate change and ensure the environment is more resilient
to changes we are already seeing. We are launching a generational
investment in nature conservation, with almost $50 million for projects across British Columbia. These projects will help
meet our commitment of protecting 30 percent of Canada's land by 2030, while conserving
carbon-rich ecosystems and ensuring biodiversity and species at
risk have the habitat they need to thrive. This scale of
environmental protection is only possible by partnering with
Indigenous peoples and working in collaboration with leaders in the
environmental movement."
– Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West
Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country
"Environment and Climate Change Canada's Nature Smart Climate
Solutions Fund, along with support from thousands of Canadians, and
in particular the Wilson 5 Foundation, has helped us protect 30
valuable places across British
Columbia in the last two years. These places are full of
life, hope, and magic. As one example, soon after we signed the
papers with some long-time landowners who wanted to make sure their
land stayed protected, a lone white mountain goat appeared on the
property. It was the first time the owners had ever seen one there.
They also spotted bobcats and a cougar with her cubs. These are
tangible signs of the good these funds are doing—protecting places
British Columbians love, for the benefit of people, wildlife, and
climate, now and into the future."
– Dr. Andrew Day, Chief Executive
Officer, BC Parks Foundation
"Thanks to the Canadian government's support, we have already
protected 222 hectares of ecologically rich land across
British Columbia! That is more
than half the size of Vancouver's
Stanley Park, and there is much more
to come! These new conservation lands provide critical wildlife
habitat, as well as natural carbon sinks that sequester greenhouse
gases. One of our flagship Nature Smart projects protects
carbon-rich forest and grassland ecosystems in the heart of an
important wildlife corridor for Grizzly Bears. Land conservation
takes patience, persistence, and partnerships. The Nature Trust of
British Columbia is honoured to
partner with the Canadian government as we accelerate our mission
to conserve British Columbia's
biodiversity."
– Dr. Jasper Lament, Chief Executive Officer, The Nature Trust of
British Columbia
"The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund has provided Nuxalk
Nation the opportunity to purchase culturally significant private
lands and to take them back under the control of the Nation. As the
original stewards of the land, the work of Nuxalkmc is grounded in
the deep relationships we have with the land and waters and our
commitment to protecting Nuxalk culture and language for the
Putl'lt (those who are not yet born). We work to protect, restore,
and enhance the integrity of Nuxalk ancestral knowledge, practices,
and governance. This project is about uplifting our relationships
to each other in community and enhancing connection to the lands
and waters of our territory."
– Blair Mack, Elected Councillor for
Nuxalk Nation
"Nature is a remedy for so many of the problems facing our
world—not only to the climate crises, by drawing down atmospheric
carbon into protected forests, grasslands, and wetlands, but also
for our health and well-being by fostering a diverse, resilient
economy. I'm excited to see more federal funding for First Nations
and conservation initiatives to protect endangered, carbon-rich
ecosystems across Canada,
including old-growth temperate rainforests, diverse grasslands,
aspen parkland, mixed forests, and boreal forests."
– Ken Wu, Executive Director,
Endangered Ecosystems Alliance
"CPAWS-BC is thrilled to see this significant funding
contribution to protect nature in British
Columbia. Healthy and intact ecosystems are critical to
boosting our resiliency to wildfires, floods, and drought.
Protecting carbon-dense ecosystems that overlap with habitat for
species at risk is a win-win for communities and nature, securing
safe havens for people and wildlife to adapt to the worsening
impacts of climate change."
– Tori Ball, Conservation Director,
Land and Fresh Water Program, Canadian Parks and Wilderness
Society, British Columbia Chapter (CPAWS-BC)
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada has
set the ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of land and water by
2030, as well as halt and reverse nature loss in Canada by 2030 and achieve a full recovery for
nature by 2050.
- Canada is home to 24 percent
of the world's wetlands, 25 percent of temperate rainforest areas,
and 28 percent of remaining boreal forests.
- Nature-based climate solutions are a key part of Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan.
- The Government of Canada has
committed to invest $5 billion over
10 years (2021–2031) in the Natural Climate Solutions Fund. This
includes:
- $1.4 billion in Environment and
Climate Change Canada's Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, which
will help Canada meet its
emissions reduction target by reducing five to
seven megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually by
2030, using nature-based climate solutions.
- $3.19 billion in the 2 Billion
Trees Program, led by Natural Resources Canada.
- $885 million in the Agricultural
Climate Solutions, led by Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada.
- In November 2023, the Governments
of Canada and British Columbia and the First Nations
Leadership Council signed a first-of-its-kind Tripartite Framework
Agreement on Nature Conservation, backed by a federal investment of
up to $500 million over the life of
the Framework Agreement, with matching commitments from the
Government of British Columbia, to
protect and conserve biodiversity, habitats, and species at risk in
the province. The Framework Agreement enables action rooted in
recognition of First Nations title and rights to reach British Columbia's and Canada's goal of protecting 30 percent of land
in British Columbia by 2030.
Associated links
- Backgrounder: The Government of Canada invests in nature-based solutions to
help fight climate change and protect biodiversity across the
country
- Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund
- 2 Billion Trees Program
- Agricultural Climate Solutions
Environment and Climate Change Canada's X (Twitter) page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada