MONTREAL, Que. --June
21, 2011 -- Canada's Environment Minister
Peter Kent, as the current chair of the
Commission on Environmental
Cooperation (CEC), is welcoming his counterparts
from the United States and Mexico to the
annual Commission for Environmental Cooperation
meeting, which starts today.
"Many of the environmental
issues our three countries face know no
boundaries and, under the Commission, we
all work together to improve our shared
North American environment," said Minister
Kent. "We also strive to provide North
American solutions to global environmental
challenges. As chair of the CEC over the
last year, Canada was pleased to help advance
our shared commitment to renew the Commission,
and move forward on our priorities, which
include addressing climate change, greening
the economy, and supporting healthy communities
and ecosystems."
The CEC has a strong
record of environmental achievement having,
for example, already taken action to reduce
or eliminate the use, release and exposure
of various chemicals, including mercury
and lindane. In addition to its current
priorities, work has started, for example,
to improve the comparability of Canadian,
United States and Mexican greenhouse gas
inventories to create a solid foundation
for further action to address climate change.
The session will end with joint announcements,
including the launch of a new community
grant program.
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Government of Canada
and Nature Conservancy of Canada conserve
valuable habitat near High River, Alberta
CALGARY, Alb. -- June
27, 2011 -- Canada's Minister of the Environment,
the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced
the Nature Conservancy of Canada's successful
acquisition of the Chinook Ranch - 1,056
hectares of land near High River, Alberta.
This project was secured in part with funding
from Environment Canada's Natural Areas
Conservation Program.
"This acquisition
marks another achievement under our government's
Natural Areas Conservation Program. With
this investment, we are taking real action
to protect and conserve our ecosystems and
sensitive species for present and future
generations," said Minister Kent. "Your
actions today will help to protect the abundance
and variety of life that will constitute
an integral part of our natural heritage
tomorrow."
The Chinook Ranch is
situated within the Bow Natural Area, on
the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
The property consists of primarily native
vegetation and includes a variety of habitat
types such as wetlands, riparian areas,
scrublands and native fescue grasslands.
The conservation of this property expands
the wildlife corridor that links Kananaskis
Country with the Bow Natural Area.
"Our Government
of Canada is committed to the long-term
conservation of biological diversity and
to working with partners, such as the Nature
Conservancy of Canada, to protect Canada's
natural treasures," said the Honourable
Menzies, Canada's Minister of State (Finance).
"The Chinook Ranch property represents
an ecologically significant area that is
home to many iconic species including red-tailed
hawk, cougar and grizzly bear."
"The heritage of
stewardship by the Hughes Family for over
50 years of Chinook Ranch is a demonstration
of their deep connection to the land. Through
the conservation easement donated by the
Hughes Family and through the financial
support of the Government of Canada and
other supporters the conservation of this
spectacular property will ensure that it
remains this way for generations to come,"
said Bob Demulder, Regional Vice President
of the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Alberta
Region.
The Government of Canada's
$225-million Natural Areas Conservation
Program is an important on-the-ground initiative
that takes real action to preserve Canada's
environment and conserve its precious natural
heritage for present and future generations.
It is through the ongoing contribution from
all donors that we can ensure the protection
of natural areas in Canada. As of December
2010, the Natural Areas Conservation Program
has protected 151,278 hectares of habitat,
which includes habitat for 101species at
risk.
