Environment and Conservation
June 19, 2015
Encouraging Wetland Conservation
Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement Recognizes the Value of Wetland Habitat in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s
The Town of Portugal Cove-St Philip’s demonstrated its commitment to protecting valuable wetland habitat today by officially signing a Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement with the Provincial Government.
The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, was joined by the Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, and Moses Tucker, Mayor of Portugal Cove-St Philip’s, at the official signing ceremony.
“The Town of Portugal Cove-St Philip’s has shown incredible leadership in seeking to maintain and enhance important wetland habitat right here in their own backyard. The community’s ability to find balance between the natural environment, economic growth and development and sustainability, makes it a role model for others – not just in our province but throughout North America.”
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation
The Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, also congratulated the Town of Portugal Cove-St Philip’s on their proactive municipal planning and commended area residents for their continued stewardship efforts.
“The true strength of a municipal 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. This agreement formalizes the incredible work residents do every day in this important area.”
- The Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island
The Municipal Habitat 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 then to accept a stewardship role in maintaining their integrity. The success of this program has been recognized both locally and internationally and heralded as an innovative and successful conservation program.
“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to sign this agreement. We now look forward to implementing it by working together with our Advisory Environment Committee, our staff and local residents to ensure long-term protection and enhancement of these natural habitats.”
- Moses Tucker, Mayor of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s
The Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program serves as an important mechanism for protecting wildlife habitat located within municipal jurisdictions. In addition to Portugal Cove-St Philip’s, 33 other municipalities have signed stewardship agreements. A list of these municipalities, along with further information on the Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program, may be found in the backgrounder below.
QUICK FACTS
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, signed a Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement with the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s today.
- Unique to Newfoundland and Labrador, the Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program was developed to encourage municipalities to recognize the value of wildlife habitat found in and near their municipal planning boundaries and then to accept a stewardship role in maintaining their integrity.
- In addition to Portugal Cove-St Philip’s, 33 other municipalities have signed stewardship agreements.
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Media contacts:
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Jennifer Collingwood Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-3575, 689-8605 jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca |
Mary Anne Dillon Constituency Assistant to the Honourable David Brazil MHA for Conception Bay East - Bell Island 709-729-0334 maryannedillon@gov.nl.ca |
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Moses Tucker Mayor, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s 709-895-8000 ext 258 Email: moses.tucker@pcsp.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
The Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program
In 1986, in light of drastic declines in North American waterfowl populations and in an effort to effectively reverse the trend, the governments of Canada and the United States signed the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) with a goal to return waterfowl populations to levels of the 1970’s by actively conserving wetland and upland habitat. In 1994, Mexico also signed on to the NAWMP, making it a truly continental initiative.
To implement and forward the goals of NAWMP, joint ventures were established across North America. The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) was established in 1989. Partners include the six eastern Canadian provinces, Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador node of the EHJV is administered by the Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation. Its primary program seeking to conserve wildlife habitat in Newfoundland and Labrador is the Municipal Stewardship Program.
Portugal Cove-St Philip’s joins 33 other municipalities that have signed stewardship agreements: Bauline, Bay Roberts, Burgeo, Carmanville, Cartwright, Channel-Port aux Basques, Come by Chance, Deer Lake, Flatrock, Flower’s Cove, Frenchman’s Cove, Gambo, Gander, Garnish, 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. Lawrence, St. Lewis, Steady Brook, Stephenville Crossing, Torbay, Wabush, Whitbourne and Winterland.
2015 06 19 11:30 a.m.