The Government of Ontario is investing money to help at-risk plants and animals here in Halton.
Conservation Halton is receiving $177,100 from the provincial government.
Milton MPP Parm Gill says in a statement that he’s hoping this funding will help protect at-risk species and their habitats.
“As part of the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, our government is committed to conserving the province’s rich biodiversity by protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitats. The funding being given to Conservation Halton will improve endangered aquatic species using critical habitat monitoring and rehabilitation.”
In 2020-2021, over 80 projects were approved for funding from the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, including the following for Halton Region:
- Aquatic Species at Risk stewardship actions in support of endangered Redside Dace and American Eel recovery in Bronte, Sixteen Mile and Fourteen Mile Creek (Utilize monitoring, habitat rehabilitation, habitat assessment and fish passage barrier mitigation on private and public property).
The federal government invested in a similar fashion late last year, where it provided up to $275,000 in funding to help protect local watersheds. Read more on that here.
The President & CEO of Conservation Halton, Hassaan Basit, says the funding is always appreciated.
“Conservation Halton is grateful for this funding that will allow us to engage in extensive outreach with landowners in the watershed and better educate them on ways we can work together to improve habitat for Redside Dace and American Eel. Habitat restoration requires a collaborative approach, and we look forward to working with our community partners to empower Ontarians to be part of the solution to environmental challenges.”
Applications for funding for the 2021-2022 Species at Risk Stewardship Program are now open. Individuals, communities and organizations have until 3:00 p.m. February 9th, 2021 to apply.
