MONCTON,
NB, July 19, 2024 /CNW/ - Forests and trees
capturing and storing carbon, offer habitats for wildlife, mitigate
hot weather in cities and towns, ensure clean water and soil, and
deliver essential spiritual, cultural and recreational benefits to
Canadians from coast to coast. By planting two billion trees over a
decade, the Government of Canada
is taking a significant step forward in our country's approach to
tackling the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity
decline.
Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of
Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, on the
behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources, alongside the Honourable Hugh J.A. (Ted) Flemming,
New Brunswick Minister for Natural
Resources and Energy Development, Annika
Chiasson, Executive Director of New Brunswick Environmental
Network, and Shane Boyd, Project
lead of Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance, announced over $71 million in federal and provincial funding to
support tree-planting projects in New Brunswick.
Together, the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick will provide more than
$71 million to support progressive
tree planting in New Brunswick,
ensuring the right trees are planted in the right places so that
the province's forests can thrive in a changing climate. With this
investment, the Province of New
Brunswick aims to plant over 52 million climate-resilient
trees on publicly managed land: the equivalent of planting over 60
trees for each resident of New
Brunswick.
Other projects funded in the province include:
- A $295,000 contribution for the
New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEN), which will use the
funding to educate and train individuals and organizations on seed
collection, tree planting and restoration techniques. The NBEN will
collaborate with local nurseries to grow native and
climate-resilient seedlings from collected seeds. These services
will be available to tree-planting organizations and landowners in
New Brunswick.
- A $33,000 contribution for the
Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance to work with local communities in
identifying and caring for tree-planting sites in the City of Dieppe. This project has empowered
local community tree-planting initiatives by transferring knowledge
through staff and volunteer training, which resulted in 2,000 new
trees being planted in Dieppe in
2023.
Federal funding comes from the 2 Billion Trees program, part of
the Government of Canada's broader
approach to nature-based climate solutions. Trees planted help to
clean the air, keep neighborhoods cool in the summer, create jobs
and fight climate change while protecting nature. By working
together with provinces, territories, local communities, non-and
for-profit organizations and Indigenous Peoples, Canada continues to build a strong, healthy
future for generations to come.
Quotes
"Partnering with provinces and territories plays a critical role
in the sustainable management of our forests and tackling the dual
crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss. The Government of
Canada is pleased to be partnering
with New Brunswick to continue
making progress toward planting trees that will clean the air we
breathe, improve water quality and mitigate climate change across
Canada. Through collaborative
action and dedication, we are taking a step in the right direction
to create a healthier environment for generations to come."
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources
"An investment in the future of our environment is an investment
in the future health and well-being of Canadians. In collaboration
with our provincial partners, this initiative will help restore and
enhance biodiversity by planting climate-resilient native trees. In
the face of a changing climate, we are committed to ensuring the
long-term sustainability of our magnificent and diverse forests in
New Brunswick."
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of
Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of National
Defence
"Our forests are our most valuable natural renewable asset. They
not only help drive our economy but also contribute to
significantly reducing the impacts of climate change and
biodiversity loss. This investment supports our forest management
approach as outlined in Our Forests are for Everyone strategy
released in August of 2023."
The Honourable Hugh J.A. (Ted)
Flemming
New
Brunswick Minister for Natural Resources and Energy
Development
"Our project looks to tackle the challenges caused by the
limited availability of native tree species in local nurseries,
which hampers overall restoration efforts and biodiversity
enhancement. Through strategic partnerships and training, we aim to
enhance seed procurement practices, increase native seedling
availability and engage the community to ensure the long-term
health and resilience of New
Brunswick's beautiful ecosystems."
Annika Chiasson,
Executive Director, New
Brunswick Environmental Network
"Thanks to the Government of Canada's 2 Billion Trees fund and everyone
involved, we were able to partner with over a hundred students
from l'École Antonine-Maillet to plant 2000 native trees on
the school property. Not only has this activity enhanced the
school's outdoor classroom, but it is also aiding in reducing air
pollution, cooling the area in the summertime, reducing habitat
fragmentation, increasing biodiversity of native species and
strengthening forest edges against exposure to wind and storms. The
Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance hopes to continue conducting
meaningful projects such as this with the continued support of the
Government of Canada and the
Province of New Brunswick."
Shane Boyd
Project
Lead, Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance
Quick Facts
- Planting two billion trees is a marathon, not a sprint; with a
focus on long-term agreements like this one with New Brunswick, the 2BT program is well on its
way. As of March 31, 2023, the 2BT
program has secured or is negotiating agreements to plant over 553
million trees.
- Partnerships with provinces and territories are key as they
manage 90 percent of Canada's
forested land. With the agreement announced today, Canada and New
Brunswick confirm their joint intention to create lasting
benefits for New Brunswick's
forests, including habitat restoration and forest resilience in a
changing climate.
- The 2BT program collaborates with partners to understand their
plans for preparing sites, how they are selecting species, and how
they plan to monitor after planting. Partners report every year,
and the 2BT program conducts site visits and will be using remote
sensing to monitor the progress and the health of the trees. By
ensuring the initial job is done well, nature can then thrive,
maintaining the long-term health of forested sites.
Related Information
- 2 Billion Trees program
- Our action: How we will get there together
- Planting the right tree in the right place for a better
tomorrow
- 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy
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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada