Brier Island - photo by Mike Dembeck. c/o Nature Conservancy of Canada.
An investment of $90 million over three years to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program is being made by the federal government.
It will be used by environmentalist groups like the Nature Conservancy of Canada to continue and expand conservation efforts.
NCC National Media Relations Director Andrew Holland says because a lot of land they’re looking to conserve isn’t government owned, the investment will be a big help.
“A lot of private landowners and families are not going to donate their lands to the government or give it to the government but they’re conservation minded and they want to do something to help. This funding helps groups like ours negotiate with willing private landowners.”
He discussed what it will mean for Nova Scotia at sites on Briar Island and in Port Joli and Port L’Hebert.
“This funding will support our continued work in these areas to try and do more conservation, to try to talk to more landowners,” says Holland. “But it also can be used elsewhere. In the last year and a half we’ve done a lot of work in the Upper Ohio area.”
He’s says they’re working in that area to preserve forests and shorelines.
Holland adds all the projects are working towards the goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2025.
The NCC says the investment will secure an additional 180,000 hectares of land across Canada.
The amount of protected lands and waters in Canada since the program started over fifteen years ago. c/o Nature Conservancy of Canada.
