BEAR RIVER, N.S. – November 4 2013 – Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s Environment Minister, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, today announced $116,000 in funding over two years from the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk Program for a new environmental project in Bear River, Nova Scotia.
This project will initiate community discussions on local species at risk and engage residents in activities for habitat conservation and species protection on reserve lands.
“The Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR) supports projects that enable Aboriginal organizations and communities to participate actively in the conservation and recovery of species at risk, including on Aboriginal lands. Our Government is pleased to support these projects, for the benefit of species and Canadian society,” said MP Kerr.
The key objective of the fund is to encourage meaningful involvement of Aboriginal people and communities in the implementation of the Species at Risk Act.
The AFSAR is co-managed by Environment Canada (EC), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Parks Canada Agency with support from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. EC and DFO share project administration responsibilities.
More information on how the Government of Canada supports the identification, the protection and the recovery of species at risk and their habitat on Aboriginal lands is available on the Species at Risk Public Registry website.
