Nature Canada

Nature Canada experts available for interviews on unprecedented continent-wide assessment of North America’s birds

Media Advisory

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm

Ottawa, ON — Nature Canada experts are available to comment on The State of North America’s Birds 2016 Report and provide specific recommendations on how to address the challenges identified. The Report reflects a groundbreaking collaboration by Canada, the United States and Mexico to evaluate bird populations across the continent.

When: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa with a simultaneous event at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC.

Nature Canada experts available include:

  • Stephen Hazell, Conservation Director and General Counsel (Policy, Law, Budget)
  • Ted Cheskey, Senior Conservation Manager (Science)

Stephen and Ted will be at the Report release at the Museum of Nature, Ottawa.

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About Nature Canada

Nature Canada is the oldest national nature conservation charity in Canada. Over the past 75 years, Nature Canada has helped protect over 63 million acres of parks and wildlife areas in Canada and countless species that depend on this habitat. Today, Nature Canada represents a network comprised of over 45,000 members and supporters and more than 350 nature organizations across the country and with affiliates in every province. Learn how you can support our nature conservation efforts across Canada.

Media Contacts:

For media assistance or inquiries contact:
Janet Weichel McKenzie
613-808-4642
jweichelmckenze@gmail.com

Background

The State of North America’s Birds Report 2016

  • The State of North America’s Birds report developed by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, which includes Nature Canada, concludes that one-third of all North American bird species need urgent conservation action.
  • Nature Canada proposes the following measures to be undertaken by the Canadian government to address the challenges identified in the report:
    • Invest $25 million per year to deliver on Canada’s responsibilities to conserve migratory birds and invest in conservation research, monitoring and action (Green Budget Coalition, 2016)
    • Invest $5 million per year on-going to create and manage at least three new National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) and develop a plan for the National Wildlife Areas system; and $10 million ramping up to $30 million per year to better manage the existing system of NWAs and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (Green Budget Coalition, 2016)
    • Stop the transfer of former PFRA community pastures to the Province of Saskatchewan and develop a plan to conserve the former community pastures in collaboration with Saskatchewan, ranchers and nature groups
    • Invest $12 million over three years in sustainable management planning and training for ecologically important grasslands, and scientific research, program development and coordination of efforts to conserve and manage the North American Central Grasslands based on an ecosystems-based approach (Green Budget Coalition, 2016)
    • Establish new National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs), Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and shorebird reserves under the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network to protect key areas for seabirds and shorebirds

For more information and to read the full report, visit www.stateofthebirds.org. Learn more about the Migratory Bird Treaty Centennial celebration at www.fws.gov/birds/MBTreaty100.

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