The Municipality of North Cowichan’s Forestry Department has received a $10,000 grant to help fund continued sensitive ecosystem work assessments and mapping within the Municipal Forest Reserve.
The opportunity was made possible due to the Coastal Douglas Fir Conservation Partnership. Through its partners at the British Columbia Conservation Foundation, an agreement was signed with Environment and Climate Change Canada to implement the Pan-Canadian approach to transforming species at risk conservation in Canada in priority places in Southwest B.C.
The objective of the program is to shift from a single-species approach to one that focuses on multiple species and ecosystems at risk. Funding is sourced from the federal government and matched at an equal rate by CDFCP members.
North Cowichan was awarded the grant as a priority place, which is defined by the federal government as an area of high biodiversity value seen as a distinct place with a common ecological theme by the people who live and work there. The additional data gathered from sensitive ecosystem assessments will further expand the information the UBC Partnership Group can draw on as it continues work on the Municipal Forest Reserve technical review.
Through the remainder of the program, the CDFCP aims to continue accessing funds to promote and implement conservation and stewardship with a focus on local governments and private land stewardship.
“We would like to thank the CDFCP and ECCC for this funding opportunity and are looking forward to continuing to work with them in the future,” noted Municipal Forester Shaun Mason.
“I am very excited that North Cowichan received this grant,” added North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring. “This funding will allow us to continue impactful sensitive eco-system work in our Municipal Forest Reserve.”