Project activities contribute to the prairie habitat joint venture vision of healthy and diverse prairie, parkland and boreal landscapes that support sustainable bird populations and provide…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $5,950,000 Project Grant under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.623) to The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). This 3-year grant, awarded on January 1, 2024, supports activities that contribute to the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture's vision of healthy and diverse prairie, parkland, and boreal landscapes. Key project activities include:

• Securing at least 700 acres of wetlands and 2,119 acres of associated upland habitat through fee-simple acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements in areas of high waterfowl significance.
• Enhancing 120 acres to increase breeding, feeding, and resting capacity for migratory birds.
• Managing nearly 200,000 acres of protected lands to maintain conservation benefits in perpetuity.
• Conducting reconnaissance and design activities to identify opportunities for habitat retention and restoration.

In addition to benefiting migratory birds, the project aims to store and sequester carbon while providing flood mitigation and recreational opportunities. The Nature Conservancy of Canada, a non-profit organization, will implement these activities across Canadian provinces.

Project activities contribute to the prairie habitat joint venture vision of healthy and diverse prairie, parkland and boreal landscapes that support sustainable bird populations and provide ecological and economic benefits to society. Prairie pothole wetlands and grasslands provide essential habitat for thousands of migratory bird species, including species at risk. The western boreal forest supports millions of migratory waterbirds and waterfowl and billions of land birds. Permanent protection of these habitats supports high survival rates and provides quality feeding and resting, nesting cover, and brood rearing habitat needs for waterfowl species, and other wetland-dependent bird species. Securement activities proposed will protect at least seven hundred acres of wetlands and two thousand, one hundred and nineteen acres of associated upland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-associated migratory birds. Fee simple acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements will target areas of greatest continental significance to the north american waterfowl management plan and high waterfowl production areas, as well as conserve habitat for a broader suite of wetland species. Enhancement activities on one hundred and twenty acres will increase breeding, feeding and resting capacity of wetlands and associated upland habitat for prairie habitat joint venture target species. Ongoing project management across nearly two hundred thousand acres ensures conservation benefits are maintained in perpetuity. Reconnaissance and design activities identify opportunities to retain and restore key habitats across the prairie target areas. In addition to supporting migratory birds, proposed activities will store and sequester carbon and provide a buffer against the impact of droughts and floods, while providing opportunities to recreate and foster the next generation of conservation supporters.