Preserving Canada’s Protected Areas

Recommendations for Budget 2006

Recommendation
Make a re-investment in Environment Canada’s protected areas of $175 million over the next five years, and $35 million annually thereafter:

• $40 million over two years to establish 10 new National Wildlife Areas (NWAs), to address urgent management issues in existing NWAs, and to update the policy and legislative framework for NWAs;
• $135 million over the subsequent three years to establish an additional 11 NWAs, support effective participation by Aboriginal communities in related economic and tourism opportunities, and match private funds for the acquisition of adjacent ecologically significant lands;
• Thereafter, $25 million per year in ongoing funding to protect the ecological integrity of NWAs and $10 million per year for new NWA establishment.

Background and Rationale
The federal government’s network of 51 National Wildlife Areas and 92 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries focuses on protecting Canada’s most significant wildlife habitat. This network is in a state of crisis, suffering from a series of on- and off-site threats to ecological integrity. Environment Canada currently lacks the capacity to manage these protected areas, with staff, capital and operating budgets amounting to a mere $1.9 million, less than one per cent of Canada’s national parks budget.

This recommended re-investment in Environment Canada’s protected areas will result in 10 new NWAs by 2008, an additional 11 NWAs by 2011, and also provide the effective capacity to manage this protected area network. This re-investment will thus allow for the expansion of the network to include significant lands for biodiversity conservation (particularly in the north, where NWAs would support the unique role of Canada’s Aboriginal communities and contribute to new partnership opportunities) and would serve to reduce the number and severity of threats to existing sites through more effective management and a stronger legislative and policy framework.

Total Investment
$175 million (over 5 years) and, thereafter, $35 million annually.

Contact
Julie Gelfand, Nature Canada
613-562-2447 ext. 231

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