This Little Saskatchewan River corridor project will enhance connectivity between Riding Mountain National Park and the Assiniboine River.

WINNIPEG, MB, Nov. 29, 2024 – The Canadian government is dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity and conserving 30% of land and inland waters, and 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. For optimal effectiveness, these protected areas require interconnectedness to facilitate species movement, interaction, and access to resources and suitable habitats.

Today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water, announced a nearly $1 million investment in a Manitoba ecological corridor initiative.

Funded through Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors, this project employs a collaborative approach involving municipal governments, willing landowners, and Indigenous groups to improve conservation planning and Indigenous stewardship in central Manitoba. The project aims to establish a green space along the Little Saskatchewan River, extending from Riding Mountain National Park to the Assiniboine River, managed for connectivity while ensuring sustainable development and livelihoods. It will also improve water quality and aid at-risk species.

This announcement follows last week’s commitment of nearly $6 million to ecological corridor projects nationwide. These projects, led by environmental non-profits and NGOs, will receive over $7.2 million in additional in-kind and monetary contributions to enhance connectivity work in 9 of 23 national priority areas. These areas were identified collaboratively, using national data and scientific assessments, to maximize the impact of ecological corridors.

Canadian parks and protected areas serve as “nature-based solutions,” aiding both nature and people in adapting to climate change. They conserve biodiversity, safeguard ecosystem services, connect landscapes, sequester carbon, foster knowledge, and inspire local action to reduce habitat fragmentation.

By investing in programs such as Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors, the Government of Canada, in collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments, is working towards its commitment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieving full nature recovery by 2050.

Quote

“Riding Mountain National Park and the Assiniboine River hold great significance. Manitobans have urged conservation efforts, and this initiative, in partnership with local First Nations, landowners, and governments, safeguards southwestern Manitoba. This ecological corridor will significantly improve connectivity between protected areas, enabling species movement and interaction. These corridors will combat biodiversity loss and contribute to nature recovery by 2050. This investment in Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors helps us reach our target of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030.”

Terry Duguid
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water

Quick Facts

• Guided by Western and Indigenous knowledge, Canada aims to conserve 30% of lands, freshwater, and oceans by 2030.
• Ecological corridors offer benefits beyond biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation, including sustainable livelihoods, increased opportunities for nature connection, and promoting human-wildlife coexistence.
• Launched in 2022, Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors promotes corridor creation in key areas.
• National priority areas are connectivity hotspots where ecological corridors can maximize impact on biodiversity and ecological functions.
• Parks Canada’s program prioritizes Indigenous leadership and stewardship, supporting Indigenous-led projects and community collaboration.

Related Documents

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Related Links

SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)