The Northwest Territories has received a $7 million injection to help protect important lands, species at risk and to fight climate change across the territory.
At a joint news conference Monday at the Legislative Assembly Monday, MP Michael McLeod and NWT Environment and Climate Change Minister Jay Macdonald announced the agreement which is designed to advance nature-related priorities in collaboration with Indigenous governments across the territory.
The decade-long agreement reflects the governments’ shared commitment to long-term environmental sustainability. It also takes on the critical challenge of biodiversity loss.
The two politicians said this is accomplished by providing support for Indigenous-led protected and conserved areas, improving outcomes for key species at risk, supporting Indigenous leadership in conservation and stewardship, and helping with data exchange.
The GNWT will work with Indigenous governments and organizations toward the protection and conservation of 6% of the territory by 2028. The agreement calls for the potential to protect and conserve up to 9.6% of the territory by 2035.
This represents a significant contribution to Canada’s goal of conserving 30% of land and water in Canada by 2030, ensuring future generations of Canadians can continue to access and connect with nature.
The agreement also calls for for a possible $20 million from the Feds to support the initiative. Periodic renewal of federal funding will also be sought over the life of the Agreement.
The deal is designed to increase the conservation industry across the territory, providing good jobs in the conservation economy.
McLeod, who made the announcement on behalf of federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, said this plan puts conservation in the hands of Indigenous partners, the people conservation loss directly affects the most.
