The Government of Canada is committed to protecting our natural environment from threats to our land, wildlife, waterways, and communities. Canada's Environmental Damages Fund is working to ensure that environmental good follows environmental harm by supporting important projects that protect Canadian wildlife and natural spaces.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced that over $12.2 million from the Environmental Damages Fund will be contributing to 22 projects across Canada that will focus on restoring or improving the natural environment, supporting wildlife, improving environmental quality, and research and development leading to restoration.
Led by 14 non-governmental organizations, six Indigenous organizations, one municipality, and one university, these projects will focus on protecting nature, restoring habitats, and preserving wildlife populations. It is estimated that these projects will:
- engage more than 31,000 participants in project activities, such as restoring fish habitat
- reduce or divert 144,710 kg of toxic or harmful waste from the environment
- reduce 5,191 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking nearly 1,600 gas cars off the road
- monitor, assess, and direct studies carried out on 127,265 hectares of habitat, which equals over 800,000 hockey rinks
- provide restoration and management action on 2,670 hectares of habitat, equivalent to nearly 17,000 hockey rinks
- implement environmental quality improvement activities on 17,824 hectares of habitat, which equals over 100,000 hockey rinks
Canada's Environmental Damages Fund uses fines from environmental infractions to support projects that will benefit Canada's natural environment, usually in the area where the violation occurred.
