The Nature Conservancy of Canada's national board met at the end of September with ecologists, agrologists, biologists, and volunteers in Saskatoon, to discuss NCC's next four years of work.
"In April, earlier this year, it was announced that NCC was the successful applicant for funding through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, which is federal funding of $100 million dollars over four years to achieve some pretty significant conservation objectives across Canada," said the vice president of the NCC, Jeniffer McKillop.
She said they are partnering with other land conservation organizations, including Ducks Unlimited, to meet their goal of 200,000 hectares or 500,000 acres of conservation lands from coast-to-coast.
"It's a large objective, and we are looking to meet the challenge," McKillop expressed.
She explained what meeting that challenge will look like.
"Preserving areas for species at risk and preventing further animals or plants from becoming endangered or threatened," she listed. "We'll look at what wetlands, forests, grasslands are sensitive or are important habitats for a variety of species, whether that be migratory birds or large ungulates. We use a planning process across the country that helps us to prioritize areas for conservation."
McKillop shared why conservation is so important.
"Protected areas are also vital to communities and to the survival of humans," she noted. "When you look at forests, they help absorb and store carbon, and wetlands act as major sponges to help store and slow the flow of water during floods and intense rainfalls, they help us out with managing flooding in the province."
She said grasslands are really important for carbon storage, and in dealing with greenhouse gas emissions, along with helping us build resilience in times of flooding and drought.
"So, conserving habitat is not only important for the plants and animals that live there but for humans as well," she reiterated.
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