News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL LAND CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN

March 14, 2007
KING CITY

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister John Baird today announced that Canada's New Government plans to invest in a national campaign to acquire and preserve ecologically sensitive land in partnership with the private sector.

"This investment will result in the long-term protection of Canada's natural treasures," said the Prime Minister. "It builds on the action we took in last year's budget to fully exempt from capital gains tax private donations of lands to conservation groups."

The Government's lead partner in the campaign is the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The Nature Conservancy of Canada will work with recognized conservation groups including Ducks Unlimited Canada and members of the Canadian Land Trust Alliance. They will identify ecologically valuable land and seek donation, purchase or preservation agreements with landowners. The government's new tax policy is expected to stimulate land donations. Where land purchases are involved, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and its partners will seek to raise funds at least matching the government's contributions. The federal contribution will be $225 million.

"Our Government is taking concrete action to protect species at risk and secure habitat on ecologically sensitive lands," said Minister Baird. "Thanks to thousands of individual volunteers and donors, we are well on our way to reverse the worrisome decline in wildlife populations of the last decades."

"This initiative demonstrates the power of private-public partnerships in addressing Canada's urgent conservation needs," said John Lounds, President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. "By working together, we will ensure that our country's ecological treasures are conserved for all Canadians, today and tomorrow."

The campaign will focus on lands that have national or provincial ecological significance, that provide habitat for species at risk or migratory birds, or that connect to existing protected areas such as National Parks. The announcement took place near the Happy Valley Forest in the heart of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Targeted for preservation by the Nature Conservancy, it is one of southern Ontario's few mature forests and is critical to the health of the regional ecosystem.

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BACKGROUNDER

Nature Conservancy of Canada Funding Announcement

As part of its commitment to conserve and protect our natural environment, Canada's New Government intends to invest $225 million to fund a new conservation initiative. It will help non-profit, non-government organizations secure ecologically sensitive lands to ensure the protection of our diverse ecosystems, wildlife, and habitat.

The Government's investment, subject to Parliamentary approval, is expected to result in the long-term protection of up to half a million acres of ecologically sensitive land across southern Canada.

To implement this initiative, the Government intends to enter into an agreement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The Nature Conservancy of Canada will partner with non-government conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited Canada and other qualified land trusts and nature conservancies. The Government's non-profit partners will work to provide matching funds.

Using a science-based process, the partners will seek to acquire ecologically sensitive lands through donation, purchase or stewardship agreements with private landowners.

Priority will be given to lands that are nationally or provincially significant, that protect habitat for species at risk and migratory birds, or that enhance connectivity or corridors between existing protected areas such as National Wildlife Areas, National Parks and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.

The Government of Canada is working closely with non-government partners in conservation efforts across Canada. These organizations play an important role in acquiring and permanently protecting natural areas, and in securing agreements with landowners to protect significant properties.

Today's announcement complements the Government's other important conservation initiatives including:

Ecological Gifts Program – The Ecological Gifts Program administered by Environment Canada provides tax incentives to land owners who donate land title or place a conservation easement on ecologically sensitive land. In its May, 2006 budget, Canada's New Government increased the incentive for land donations by reducing the taxable capital gains inclusion rate for certified ecological gift donations from 25 per cent to zero;

$30 million to promote sustainable development of the Spirit Bear Rainforest;

$2 million for restoration efforts of Vancouver's storm-damaged Stanley Park;

$1 million to Nature Canada to develop a comprehensive network of nature organizations across the country.

Moreover, the Government of Canada currently has programs in place to promote the protection of ecologically sensitive lands. These include the Habitat Stewardship Program, which has invested in 830 local projects to conserve critical habitat, as well as Environment Canada's Protected Areas Network, made up of 51 National Wildlife Areas and 92 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.

These initiatives complement the world's largest network of National Parks and heritage sites, which hosts 22 million visitors a year.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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