Municipal Wetland Stewardship Agreement Signed in Steady Brook

The Town of Steady Brook showed its commitment to protecting waterfowl habitat by officially signing a new Municipal Wetland Stewardship Agreement on July 1 with the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation, was represented by the Honourable Tom Marshall, MHA for Humber East and Minister of Finance, at the signing event, and was joined by Brenda Duffy, Deputy Mayor of Steady Brook.

“I am very encouraged by the initiative shown by the Steady Brook town today to protect valuable wetland habitat and to increase the town’s environmental sustainability,” said Minister Wiseman. “The attitudes and actions of local town councils and community members who share wetland and upland areas with waterfowl and other wildlife play a vitally important role in the sustainability and conservation of these species.”

The Municipal Stewardship Program is unique to Newfoundland and Labrador, and was developed to encourage municipalities to recognize the value of wildlife habitat found in and near their municipal planning boundaries and to accept a stewardship role in maintaining its integrity. The success of this program has been recognized both locally and internationally and has been heralded as an innovative and successful conservation program.

“The agreement is indeed of great importance to the Town of Steady Brook and to the Humber Valley area,” said Brenda Duffy. “This is a wonderful initiative that highlights our town’s focus on environmental stewardship and the importance we place on increasing environmental sustainability in municipal planning. We now look forward to the next steps of this process, specifically the development of a Habitat Conservation Plan to guide management of these areas, and the building of a strong stewardship ethic in the town to ensure long-term protection and enhancement of these habitats.”

Minister Marshall congratulated the Town of Steady Brook on their commitment to the environment and encouraged the town to continue to enhance these wetlands so that they will be a central source of pride for Steady Brook residents throughout the years to come. “The true strength of a stewardship agreement lies in the empowerment of local residents to conserve and enhance local wildlife habitats – and, essentially, to act as responsible stewards of the environment.”

The Municipal Stewardship Program serves as an important mechanism for protecting wildlife habitat located within municipal jurisdictions. In addition to Steady Brook, 27 other municipalities have signed stewardship agreements: Bay Roberts, Burgeo, Carmanville, Cartwright, Channel-Port aux Basques, Come by Chance, Deer Lake, Flower’s Cove, Gambo, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Labrador City, Mary’s Harbour, Port au Choix, Red Bay, Spaniard’s Bay, Springdale, St Anthony, St. John’s, St. Lewis, Stephenville Crossing, Torbay, Wabush, Whitbourne and Winterland. Corporate agreements have also been signed with the Iron Ore Company of Canada and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited. In addition, several agreements have been signed with private landowners across the province.

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2011 07 04                                                                          10:25 a.m.