Government of Canada Partners With Provincial Organizations to Support Manitoba Beef Producers

March 2, 2017                           Environment and Climate Change Canada WINNIPEG – Today, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women, Terry Duguid, will join members of several local organizations to announce funding from the Government of Canada’s National Conservation Plan’s Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) initiative. The SARPAL initiative is focused on working with the agricultural community to facilitate recovery of species at risk on agricultural lands through voluntary stewardship actions related to critical habitat for species at risk. Working closely with stakeholders, Environment and Climate Change Canada is exploring a variety of approaches to working with producers on voluntary agreements that result in effective protection of identified critical habitat for Species at Risk Act-listed species located on agricultural lands. There are four SARPAL projects taking place in Manitoba. A joint partnership between Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Manitoba Heritage Habitat Corporation (MHHC) will promote incentive-based prairie enhancement actions with beef producers in Southwestern Manitoba. Both organizations will seek to develop clusters of land owners that implement Beneficial Management Practices for species at risk including fencing, off-site watering, and complementary pastures. The Turtle Mountain Conservation District and Manitoba Sustainable Development are partnering on a burrowing owls project that focuses on the installation of artificial nests to research and raise awareness of Burrowing owls. Manitoba Agriculture is working to add a species at risk component to the existing Environmental Farm Plan process/booklet. The West Souris River Conservation District’s grassland birds project will centre on mapping, surveying and implementing bird-specific BMPs for targeted species in southwest Manitoba. Quotes: “The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of agricultural land and agricultural producers to the conservation of species at risk. Many Canadian producers steward their land in ways that benefit wildlife and we support their efforts that will directly help species at risk to survive and recover.” – Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women “The commitment of Manitoba’s beef industry to being stewards of the land is well-documented. Properly managed pasture land is integral in supporting biodiversity and providing an ecosystem for species at risk. The funds provided by this program will allow producers in the southwest to take their stewardship efforts a step further and  work with MBP and MHHC to develop measures that will support and protect species at risk in that region.” – MBP President Ben Fox ““The board and staff of the West Souris River Conservation District are looking forward to hitting the ground running with this project. There has already been a lot of interest from landowners in the area.” – WRSCD Manager Dean Booker “The Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program is a non-profit organization that works directly with program partners, Turtle Mountain and West Souris River Conservation District, in southwestern Manitoba. One of the program’s main focuses is to connect with landowners who have habitat suitable for Burrowing Owls. Our program runs solely on private and public funding and we are so thrilled to receive this tremendous support from SARPAL for three seasons.” – Alexandra Froese, Turtle Mountain Conservation District Project Coordinator   All media are invited to attend Date:        Thursday, March 2, 2017 Time:       10:00 a.m. Location: Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre Glenlea Research Station Research Station Road Glenlea, MB R0G 0S0 On Highway 75, approximately 20 km south of the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus – 30 –