Elvis Loveless, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Land Resources, was in Elliston today to sign a Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement that will help protect wetland and coastal habitat located within the town’s planning boundaries.
The Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program, which is unique to Newfoundland and Labrador, encourages municipalities to recognize the value of wildlife habitat found in and near municipal planning boundaries and to take an active role in maintaining their value and integrity.
The Town of Elliston is the 43rd community in the province to enter into a Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement with the Provincial Government. A complete list of communities participating in the program, are highlighted in the backgrounder found below.
Quotes
“I applaud Elliston and all like-minded communities that take the initiative to become better stewards of sensitive wildlife habitat within their municipal boundaries. The efforts of Elliston will enhance the town’s environmental sustainability and help protect valuable wetlands and coastal areas such as puffin breeding habitat.”
Elvis Loveless
Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Land Resources
“We are pleased to partner with the Provincial Government in this special initiative that highlights our town’s focus on environmental stewardship and the importance we place on increasing environmental sustainability in municipal planning.”
Derek Martin
Mayor, Town of Elliston
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Learn more
Municipal Stewardship
Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc.
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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
The Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program
The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) was first established in 1989, and today seeks to conserve landscapes in eastern Canada that sustain wildlife populations (often focusing on birds) while providing ecological, social and economic benefits to society. Implementation partners include the six eastern Canadian provincial wildlife conservation agencies, Environment Canada and Climate Change, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Bird Studies Canada, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador node of the EHJV is administered by the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources. Its primary program, seeking to conserve wildlife habitat in Newfoundland and Labrador is the Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program.
Forty-three communities have now entered into Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreements with the Provincial Government seeking to conserve wildlife habitat found within municipal planning boundaries. They include: Bauline, Bay Roberts, Burgeo, Bonavista, Carmanville, Cartwright, Centreville-Wareham-Trinity, Channel-Port aux Basques, Come by Chance, Corner Brook, Deer Lake, Elliston, Frenchman’s Cove, Flatrock, Flower’s Cove, Forteau, Gambo, Gander, Garnish, Grand Falls-Windsor, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Indian Bay, Labrador City, Lewisporte, Mary’s Harbour, New Wes Valley, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, Pouch Cove, Port aux Choix, Red Bay, Spaniard’s Bay, Springdale, St. Anthony, St. John’s, St. Lawrence, St. Lewis, Steady Brook, Stephenville Crossing, Torbay, Wabush, Whitbourne, and Winterland.
Following the signing of a Habitat Stewardship Agreement, these municipalities have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the activities of the Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc.