Canada�s North - Ours to Protect, The World�s to Cherish, is the theme for National Wildlife Week being celebrated April 8-14. The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Environment and Conservation, is inviting the public to participate in National Wildlife Week activities taking place in the province.

"National Wildlife Week provides opportunities for people of our province to discover ways they can help protect and cherish our wildlife," said the minister. "It is our responsibility to provide a healthy habitat for our wildlife, identify endangered species and establish wildlife reserves."

The department has an education program for students to raise their awareness of the importance of preserving and protecting our province�s wildlife. The department encourages students, teachers and visitors to visit the Salmonier Nature Park where they can explore our natural surroundings and participate in the Wild Education activities taking place from April to June 2007. Schools have also been invited to participate in an art and writing contest based on the theme. Additionally, students are encouraged to enter the Animal Keeper for a Day contest, where they have an opportunity to spend a day viewing the wildlife and assisting the animal keepers who care for and feed captive wildlife at Salmonier Nature Park.

The department partners with the Canadian Wildlife Federation to commemorate the week which pays tribute to our country�s natural heritage and actively contributes to the conservation of wildlife through school and public education programs.

The minister noted that programs are available to educators that provide the resources they need to integrate environmental education in the classroom. "Educators across the province have been invited to attend upcoming workshops in Wild Education programs such as Project Wild and Below Zero. Below Zero, in particular, is designed to be an instructional resource for those interested in teaching about natural resources in winter and frozen environments," Minister Jackman said.

The department�s Wildlife Division in Corner Brook has a daily lunch-time speaker series scheduled beginning Monday, April 9 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 117 Riverside Drive. Topics include: the Davis Strait Polar Bear Project, What�s Below the Surface-Labrador Fish Species, Waterfowl Conservation and Management in Canada�s North, Stewardship of the Arctic Alpine Flora of the Great Northern Peninsula, and Nunatsiavut Perspectives in Conservation. The public is invited to come and view the posters and displays, meet the staff and enter their name to win a daily door prize. The grand prize is a framed waterfowl print, donated by Wildlife Habitat Canada.

"I encourage you to participate in National Wildlife Week activities this year and to be aware that our actions are instrumental in protecting our northern environment, including those areas in which we live," said the minister. For more information, contact the Salmonier Nature Park at 709-229-7888, our Corner Brook office at 709-637-2007 or visit online //www.env.gov.nl.ca/snp.

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Media contact:
Diane Hart
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 685-4401
dianehart@gov.nl.ca

2007 04 09                                               10:00 a.m.