Environment and Conservation
June 25, 2010The following is being
distributed at the request of the Nature Conservancy of Canada:
The Nature Conservancy of Canada Secures Important
Natural Area in Newfoundland and Labrador
In honour of Canada's 143rd birthday, the Nature
Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has secured five acres (two hectares) of
natural habitat in the Grand Codroy Valley on the southwest coast on the
island of Newfoundland. This important estuary is one of 10 Gifts to
Canadians announced this week in celebration of Canada Day.
The Chaisson property is located on the south side of
the mouth of the Grand Codroy estuary and protects over 40 feet of
estuarine shoreline. Combined with the forest located on the northern
side of the property and the estuary, the property provides important
staging and nesting habitat for songbirds and especially waterfowl, as
well as small mammals. The Grand Codroy estuary is known for its large
populations of migrating and nesting waterfowl, lush freshwater marshes,
rare plants and many songbirds uncommon to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada has identified the Grand Codroy Estuary
as a priority site and this recent acquisition brings the total land
secured in the area above 500 acres (202 hectares).
Partnership is at the heart of NCC's work. Many
partners have come together to help secure the Chaisson property,
including Coleman Group of Companies, Dr. Sargent and Ruth Ann Horwood,
and Oceanex Inc. But, this year, all 10 NCC Gifts to Canadians (one in
each province) have also been made possible through the Government of
Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program. This unique public-private
partnership helps non-government organizations secure ecologically
sensitive lands to ensure the protection of our country's diverse
ecosystems, wildlife and habitat.
"While small, the addition of these five acres and
over 40 feet of shoreline is a significant achievement and contributes
an important piece to the conservation puzzle that is the Grand Codroy
Estuary," said Linda Stephenson, Regional Vice President for the
Atlantic Region of NCC. "Together with partners, NCC has protected over
500 acres of land along the largest and most
significant wetland system on the Island of Newfoundland."
"This acquisition marks another achievement under our
government's $225 million Natural Areas Conservation Program. With this
investment, we are taking real action to protect and conserve our
ecosystems and sensitive species for present and future generations,"
said Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice. "Your
actions, large or small, will help to protect the abundance and variety
of life that is part of our natural heritage."
"Preserving our ecologically significant areas is an
important aspect of our overall sustainability goals for Newfoundland
and Labrador," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of
Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
"The Chaisson Property will complement the other significant areas in
the province that have been conserved through both our own efforts and
those of the Nature Conservancy of Canada."
FACTS
The Grand Codroy Estuary supports large
numbers of geese and ducks. Overall, nineteen species of
waterfowl occur there, including some that are continentally
uncommon or provincially rare.
The estuary also supports an unusually high
raptor population, especially during the fall migration.
Furthermore, the area is well known to birders as a provincial
hotspot for songbirds and is the only part of Newfoundland where
the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is regularly known to occur.
The relatively benign climate and productive
soil is also evidenced by the presence of over 25 rare vasular
plants including Marsh Horsetail and Pale St. John's Wort. These
plants are typical of more southerly and temperate regions of
the continent.
The Grand Codroy River Estuary was designated
a Ramsar Site in 1987. It is also recognized as an Important
Bird Area (IBA) of international importance, and is the largest
and most significant wetland system in Newfoundland.
In the last year, NCC's work in Newfoundland
and Labrador has been made possible by the support of Anthony
Capital Corporation; Coleman Group of Companies; Evergreen
Foundation; Friends of the Nature Conservancy of Canada;
Hillview Terrace Suites, Husky Energy, Lotek Wireless, The
McCain Foundation; Mountain Equipment Co-op; Newfoundland and
Labrador Credit Union Charitable Foundation; Newfoundland Hydro;
Oceanex Inc.; Woodward Group of Companies; The W. Garfield
Weston Foundation; US Fish and Wildlife; and many individuals.
The 10 Gifts to Canadians cover almost 13
square kilometres and protect habitat for many species at
risk.
Many of the protected properties provide vital
links to larger landscapes, creating networks of protected areas
that give species the room to move, survive and thrive, which is
especially important in the face of climate change.
Since its inception in 2007, the Natural Areas
Conservation Program has helped NCC to conserve
more than 342,500 acres
(138,600 hectares), protecting habitat for more than 79 species
at risk.
LEARN MORE
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation's
leading private land conservation organization, working to protect our
valuable natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.
Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to
protect more than two million acres (800,000 hectares), coast-to-coast
and over 8,300 acres (3,358 hectares) in Newfoundland and Labrador. By
investing in conservation, we are ensuring that our natural world
remains a home for wildlife, a haven for recreation and a vital resource
that cleans the air we breathe and the water we drink. Through strong
partnerships, NCC works to safeguard our natural areas so that our
children and grandchildren will have the chance to enjoy them.
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Media contacts:
Crystal Folkins
Manager of Communications, Atlantic Region
The Nature Conservancy of Canada
506-450-6010, 1-877-231-4400
Crystal.Folkins@natureconservancy.ca |
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
Government of Canada
819-997-1441 |
Melony O'Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575,
689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
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2010 06 25
10:20 a.m. |
