Pallister announces $2.2M in initial Conservation Trust projects

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This article was published 14/04/2019 (1838 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government has announced the initial batch of projects to be funded under its $102-million Conservation Trust.

In an announcement Monday at Assiniboine Park, Premier Brian Pallister said $2.2 million would be earmarked this year for 41 projects.

He said the trust, part of the government’s Climate Change and Green Plan, will leave the province in better shape for future generations.

“This plan we’re moving forward with is not just a climate plan and a green plan, it’s a legacy plan,” he said.

While the province is providing $2.2 million this year, participating organizations that range from conservation districts and groups such as Save our Seine to the Manitoba Forage and Grasslands Association are contributing $5.6 million in matching funds.

The $102-million trust, announced in the 2018 provincial budget, is the government’s most substantial investment under its Green Plan. The money is being managed by the Winnipeg Foundation, while the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corp. selects project recipients and ensures that funds are being spent as planned.

This year’s funding is divided into four areas: watershed management; habitat and wildlife; projects that connect people to nature; and innovation and conservation planning.

Because of the funding model, grants from the trust are expected to be made in perpetuity. The government’s investment is expected to generate $5 million per year.

Karla Guyn, CEO of Ducks Unlimited, congratulated the government for establishing the trust.

“By putting funds into a permanent endowment, the province is supporting important conservation projects for generations to come,” she said. “This is a visionary and enduring approach that’s setting a positive example for other provinces to follow.”

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca