Environment and Conservation
April 11, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Conservation:

Provincial Government Recognizes National Wildlife Week

Mr. Speaker, having worked for 30 years as a wildlife biologist, I am pleased to rise in this House to recognize April 10-16 as National Wildlife Week. This year’s theme, Giving Wings to Wildlife Conservation, encourages us to consider all the creatures that inhabit our skies.

Mr. Speaker, this year National Wildlife Week begins on the birth date of Jack Miner. Through his pioneering work with waterfowl, Mr. Miner was instrumental in changing North American attitudes about wildlife conservation.

This year we also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Birds Convention between Canada and the United States, the first international treaty to conserve wildlife.

Mr. Speaker, we began celebrating this past weekend at our newly opened Discovery Centre at Salmonier Nature Park. Teachers can also invite an interpreter from the park to their classroom this week for a fun presentation about bats.

In our province there are 54 animal and plant species, sub-species and populations of wildlife that are currently listed as endangered, threatened or vulnerable. My department is undertaking valuable work toward creating a Natural Areas System Plan and a Provincial Wetlands Strategy both of which will help to ensure that our wildlife species are protected.

For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to celebrate National Wildlife Week and engage in activities all year round that protect and support our wildlife species for future generations.

2016 04 11                              1:55 p.m.