ALMA, NEW BRUNSWICK, November 10, 2009--On behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Mr. Rob Moore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal, today announced a $1.35 million investment to improve the health of the aquatic ecosystems in Fundy National Park of Canada. This investment is another demonstration of Canada’s international leadership in the area of ecological management and restoration.
Through Parks Canada, the Government will invest over $1.2 million in the Water for Life project, whose goal is to improve the aquatic ecosystem health of Fundy National Park, and an additional $150,000 contribution to the Fort Folly First Nations Species and Habitat Recovery Program.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to invest in these important projects to improve the health of Fundy National Park, and to augment the efforts of Fort Folly First Nation,” said MP Moore. “This funding will help recover the endangered Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon and the threatened American Eel. This investment will also help restore Dickson Brook, and will be used to develop citizen science programs where visitors can become directly involved with science and monitoring activities.”
The announcement was made today during the release of inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon into Point Wolfe River in Fundy National Park. The fish were collected in the park as smolt and reared at the Mactaquac Biodiversity Centre, operated by Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The investment announced today is part of Parks Canada’s nation-wide Action on the Ground Program to engage Canadians in a range of conservation activities that promote the ecological integrity of Canada’s national parks.
“I am very proud of the work of this Government in helping protect our ecosystems while creating unique opportunities for visitors and stakeholders to get involved,” said Minister Prentice. “Thanks to these two initiatives, Fundy National Park, along with partners like Fort Folly First Nation, will be able to work together to maintain healthier aquatic ecosystems for species at risk like the Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic, and for our own appreciation and enjoyment of Fundy National Park and other natural areas.”
Canada’s national parks resonate for Canadians as a significant symbol of our natural heritage. National parks and other protected areas provide opportunities for Canadians to experience, discover, understand and appreciate their natural heritage. They help conserve biodiversity for generations to come; they generate economic benefits to adjacent communities all across the country; and they can serve as living laboratories to help us to understand the state of our ecosystems.
Information:
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Danielle Richard
Communication Officer
Fundy National Park
506-887-6102
