New law will help protect endangered species
Species home to Manitoba will soon enjoy more comfort in their own space.
The Province is developing a strategy to protect species at risk that will also include new funding for population recovery projects and new habitat protection legislation.
Gord Mackintosh, conservation and water stewardship minister, made the announcement on Tuesday and said, "The loss of even one species reduces the diversity of our ecosystems and diminishes the health of our environment and our province."
The provincial strategy is part of a TomorrowNOW initiative, which is the province's eight-year green plan for protecting the environment.
Currently there are 61 species on the endangered list, with one mammal, 13 birds, one lizard, six moths, one butterfly, one snake, one mussel and three plants added the list.
An example of the important of these species is the poweshiek butterfly, which is small and brown but can only be found is southeast Manitoba, making it one of the last remaining populations in the world.
New legislation to be tabled in the coming months would regulate the laws and make it illegal to kill, injure, possess, disturb or interfere with a listed species.
However, Mackintosh indicates that the new laws will not affect treaty or Aboriginal rights.
Nevertheless, the government will distribute $125,000 to eight organizations and universities to gather information, study breeding success and evaluate the effects of habitat disturbance.
For a complete list of those species listed endangered, log onto: www.gov.mb.ca