scooter
03-13-2009, 11:38 AM
Ducks Unlimited gets $1.5M to maintain N.B. wetlands; Conservation | Group looks after 371 projects across New Brunswick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The provincial government will pay $1.5 million into a new wetlands sustainability fund to enable Ducks Unlimited Canada to conduct maintenance of its 371 projects in the province. Mac Dunfield, senior Atlantic director for Ducks Unlimited, announced that the conservation group will match the government contribution.
Premier Shawn Graham made the announcement at Ducks Unlimited's Union Street office Thursday. "Today, we have a growing understanding of the need to conserve and protect wetlands. This was not always the case," Graham said.
Wetlands play an important role in habitat protection and in moderating the effects of floods, droughts, climate change and erosion. "It is an important priority for our government," Graham said.
The fund will provide capital and interest to maintain 217 water control structures, 59 fish ways and 136 kilometres of dykes located in the St. John River flood plain, the Northumberland Strait coastal plain and the Tantramar area of the upper Bay of Fundy.
Graham said work carried out under the fund should generate about 50 jobs annually, mostly in rural areas.
There will be jobs for heavy equipment contractors, construction materials suppliers and workers needed to maintain and rebuild the infrastructure, said the premier. "This is a win-win situation," Graham said. "This partnership will ensure that these wetlands are maintained for years to come."
During the past 40 years, Ducks Unlimited has invested $40 million to conserve almost 21,000 hectares of critically important wetlands, Graham said, and more than half of all the wetlands that Ducks Unlimited Canada manages is in the four Atlantic provinces. "As a government, we have permanently protected land and water that represent our natural heritage. Our new management plan for Crown forests will further expand our existing network of protected natural areas by as much as 100 per cent," said Natural Resources Minister Wally Stiles.
Stiles said his department has a long history of working with Ducks Unlimited Canada to protect wetlands and migratory birds.
Dunfield said after spending 34 years in construction, he developed an appreciation for the natural environment. For the past 20 years, he has worked with Ducks Unlimited to try to make a difference. "Our proactive efforts in conserving key wetlands across Atlantic Canada began long before most people or governments realized the broad benefits of wetlands in providing wildlife habitat, storing and improving water quality and capturing harmful greenhouse gases," Dunfield said.
To properly maintain water control structures, fish ladders and dykes, annual inspections, repairs and reconstruction need to take place, Dunfield said.
Ducks Unlimited is a national, private, non-profit organization that has been involved in wetland conservation for 70 years.
To learn more about the organization, visit www.ducks.ca (http://www.ducks.ca/).
--------------------------------------------------
PUBLICATION: The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton)
DATE: 2009.03.13
SECTION: News;News
PAGE: A6
BYLINE: HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
WORD COUNT: 373
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The provincial government will pay $1.5 million into a new wetlands sustainability fund to enable Ducks Unlimited Canada to conduct maintenance of its 371 projects in the province. Mac Dunfield, senior Atlantic director for Ducks Unlimited, announced that the conservation group will match the government contribution.
Premier Shawn Graham made the announcement at Ducks Unlimited's Union Street office Thursday. "Today, we have a growing understanding of the need to conserve and protect wetlands. This was not always the case," Graham said.
Wetlands play an important role in habitat protection and in moderating the effects of floods, droughts, climate change and erosion. "It is an important priority for our government," Graham said.
The fund will provide capital and interest to maintain 217 water control structures, 59 fish ways and 136 kilometres of dykes located in the St. John River flood plain, the Northumberland Strait coastal plain and the Tantramar area of the upper Bay of Fundy.
Graham said work carried out under the fund should generate about 50 jobs annually, mostly in rural areas.
There will be jobs for heavy equipment contractors, construction materials suppliers and workers needed to maintain and rebuild the infrastructure, said the premier. "This is a win-win situation," Graham said. "This partnership will ensure that these wetlands are maintained for years to come."
During the past 40 years, Ducks Unlimited has invested $40 million to conserve almost 21,000 hectares of critically important wetlands, Graham said, and more than half of all the wetlands that Ducks Unlimited Canada manages is in the four Atlantic provinces. "As a government, we have permanently protected land and water that represent our natural heritage. Our new management plan for Crown forests will further expand our existing network of protected natural areas by as much as 100 per cent," said Natural Resources Minister Wally Stiles.
Stiles said his department has a long history of working with Ducks Unlimited Canada to protect wetlands and migratory birds.
Dunfield said after spending 34 years in construction, he developed an appreciation for the natural environment. For the past 20 years, he has worked with Ducks Unlimited to try to make a difference. "Our proactive efforts in conserving key wetlands across Atlantic Canada began long before most people or governments realized the broad benefits of wetlands in providing wildlife habitat, storing and improving water quality and capturing harmful greenhouse gases," Dunfield said.
To properly maintain water control structures, fish ladders and dykes, annual inspections, repairs and reconstruction need to take place, Dunfield said.
Ducks Unlimited is a national, private, non-profit organization that has been involved in wetland conservation for 70 years.
To learn more about the organization, visit www.ducks.ca (http://www.ducks.ca/).
--------------------------------------------------
PUBLICATION: The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton)
DATE: 2009.03.13
SECTION: News;News
PAGE: A6
BYLINE: HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
WORD COUNT: 373
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------