The Ontario government is investing up to $20 million in establishing the Caribou Conservation Stewardship Program, designed to bolster initiatives that safeguard and rejuvenate caribou populations in the province.
The funding will be accessible to non-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, and diverse groups, facilitating conservation actions such as habitat restoration, protection, monitoring, and research.
David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, stressed the pivotal role of caribou in the province and the necessity of investing in their welfare.
This program represents the most substantial individual investment ever dedicated to caribou in Ontario, underlining the government’s steadfast dedication to their conservation and revival.
The initiative aligns with the Agreement for the Conservation of Caribou, Boreal Population in Ontario—a five-year collaborative endeavor between the Ontario government and Canada.
It establishes an all-encompassing framework encompassing cooperative commitments, habitat management, protection, and restoration activities to safeguard and revitalize caribou populations.
Funded projects are poised to yield tangible outcomes, substantially contributing to the maintenance and resurgence of caribou populations in Ontario.
Eligible activities span from habitat restoration and monitoring to threat reduction and the incorporation of traditional knowledge.
Applications for the Caribou Conservation Stewardship Program are open from August 17 to September 28, 2023, with successful projects to be selected in spring 2024.
Ontario is navigating the implementation of the conservation agreement through collaborative efforts, striving for a harmonious equilibrium between species protection, recovery, and the socio-economic context of Northern communities and industries.
Written By: K. Milhomens
