National Wildlife Week Renews Call for Conservation

Sustainability and conservation of wildlife in the province are at the forefront of National Wildlife Week, taking place this year April 7 to 13. Established in 1947, the annual recognition is celebrated during the week that includes April 10, the birth date of the late Jack Miner, one of the founders of Canada's conservation movement.

“Conservation of our wildlife remains a priority for our government, and National Wildlife Week presents an opportunity to reiterate our continued focus on management strategies to help ensure sustainability of our various populations,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “The decline of the George River caribou herd in Labrador is an example of the importance of our research and understanding of the many factors that affect wildlife populations and their habitats. It also demonstrates the need for governments and stakeholders to work co-operatively toward sustaining such a valuable species.”

Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future included an investment of $383,000 to complete the final year of the three-year, $1.9 million Labrador Caribou Initiative aimed at better understanding the reasons for, and mitigating to the greatest extent possible, the recent decline of the George River herd. The funding in this year’s budget will facilitate data collection and studies on caribou and predator populations, as well as enhanced education and awareness initiatives.

“In light of the hunting ban implemented for this herd in January 2013, it is essential that the necessary information for the development and implementation of a long-term management plan to help maximize the recovery of this herd is gathered,” said Minister Hedderson. “We must also continue our focus on long-term planning related to other species in our province such as moose. We recently conducted public consultations for a five-year moose management plan which we anticipate will be released this fall.”

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Media contact:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca 

2013 04 08                             1:45 p.m.