Canada announces funding for biodiversity initiative in Latin America and Caribbean
News release
May 22, 2024 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced $15 million in funding from Canada over 3 years to Birds Canada to support biodiversity and the health of ecosystems in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Peru through the Conserva Aves initiative.
Conserva Aves will help members of communities, particularly women, Indigenous people and Afro-descendant people, conserve more than 2 million hectares of land spanning a variety of biodiverse ecosystems in 100 key sites across the Latin American and Caribbean region.
This comes at a time when the region is facing increasing threats to its biodiversity that are disrupting natural systems and animal species, as well as the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. These threats are impacting the health of migratory bird populations—many of which live in Canada for part of the year.
The initiative supports Canada’s commitments under its International Biodiversity Program, which seeks to improve biodiversity and the health of ecosystems, on which people depend, specifically in the most vulnerable regions of the world.
Minister Hussen made the announcement at an event hosted by Birds Canada to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity. The event brought together national and international leaders committed to advancing environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Quotes
“As we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, Canada remains dedicated to promoting environmental conservation at home and around the world. Our partnership with Birds Canada and involvement in the Conserva Aves initiative will not only protect biodiversity in Latin America, but also safeguard approximately 50 species of migrating birds and help create a healthier ecosystem.”
- Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development
“Migratory bird species play an essential role in maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems for our planet. Birds are the chorus to nature’s biodiversity, and they enrich our lives. Migratory birds spend a large part of their lives outside Canada, and the funding announced today is crucial to continuing our work with other countries on conservation actions. As birds know no borders, collaboration is essential to building a nature-positive future for lasting impacts on bird populations in Canada and around the world.”
- Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Quick facts
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Approximately 80% of birds that are found in Canada migrate beyond Canada’s borders, many to countries in Central and South America. Unfortunately, these birds are increasingly under threat in the Latin American and Caribbean region due to habitat loss and climate change.
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Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world—home to more than half of all terrestrial life.
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Canada’s funding for the Conserva Aves initiative contributes to commitments Canada made under its $350-million International Biodiversity Program, which was announced at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, in Montréal, Quebec, in December 2022 and supports the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
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Birds Canada is a national, non-profit charitable organization dedicated to bird conservation.
Associated links
Contacts
Olivia Batten
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development
Olivia.Batten@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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