Govt of Canada continues to support First Nations leadership in conservation

#Ottawa;#IndigenousPeople; #IGPP; #Sustainability; #Biodiversity; #EcosystemConservation

Ottawa, Jul 22 (Canadian-Media): Government of Canada announced July 22 $600,000 in funding for 10 new projects across the country for the period 2020–2021 in the First Nations tier 1 stream  under the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program ( IGPP), media reports said.

Jonathan Wilkinson. Image credit: Twitter handle

A joint working group of First Nations experts and federal representatives selected 10 successful projects out of more than 100 proposals against rigorous criteria for their benefit to Indigenous communities and sustainability.

Being leaders in environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and natural resource management, Indigenous-led work would be advanced by IGPP to protect and conserve ecosystems, develop and maintain sustainable economies, and reinforce cultural connection to the land.

"Indigenous Peoples have protected nature since time immemorial, which is why we are pleased to support their leadership in safeguarding our natural environment—for now and for generations to come,” Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Indigenous Environment Network. Image credit: Twitter handle

"It means...more lands and waters will be managed for the benefit of all, ” Valérie Courtois, Director of Indigenous Leadership Initiative.

This would also result in creation of both seasonal and full-time employment opportunities for the indigenous people as their territories contain as much as 80 percent of the world’s remaining forest biodiversity.