Canada’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change will invest more than CAN$12.2 million from the Environmental Damages Fund in 22 projects that will focus on restoring or improving the natural environment, supporting wildlife, improving environmental quality, and research and development leading to restoration.
Led by 14 non-governmental organizations, six Indigenous organizations, one municipality, and one university, these projects will focus on protecting nature, restoring habitats, and preserving wildlife populations. It is estimated that these projects will:
- engage more than 31,000 participants in project activities, such as restoring fish habitat
- reduce or divert 144,710 kg of toxic or harmful waste from the environment
- reduce 5,191 tons of greenhouse gas emissions
- monitor, assess, and direct studies carried out on 127,265 hectares of habitat
- provide restoration and management action on 2,670 hectares of habitat
- implement environmental quality improvement activities on 17,824 hectares of habitat
Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund uses fines from environmental infractions to support projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment, usually in the area where the violation occurred. Since 2016, more than $210 million has been invested in over 300 projects, benefiting ecosystems and communities across Canada.
“Our government is committed to taking concrete action to conserve wildlife and restore our natural environment,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “Thanks to Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, we’re supporting 22 projects across the country that promote biodiversity, Indigenous-led conservation, and local environmental action in ecosystems where damage has occurred.”
