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First Nations in Northern Ontario receive funding for projects to protect nature

Two projects will look at whether bat populations in Sudbury area are at risk

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Two First Nations in the Sudbury area will receive federal money to study whether bats are at risk in the northeastern.

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In all. Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario will receive over $275,000 in funding for nature protection initiatives, Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre said in a release.

Serre announced the funding on behalf of Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. It is intended to support projects that will address the decline in biodiversity, empower the communities to fight climate change, protect the Great Lakes, create good jobs and deliver positive, measurable results for residents of Northern Ontario.

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“Protecting nature and empowering our Indigenous communities is crucial for Nickel Belt-Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario to prosper,” Serre, a Liberal MP, said.

“The funding announced today will ensure the proper monitoring and protection initiatives are accessible to help preserve the vitality of our ecosystems and of the varied species who inhabit them.”

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Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre (left) and Chief Ted Roque of Wahnapitae First Nation announce funding to support projects intended to protect nature. Supplied photo
Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre (left) and Chief Ted Roque of Wahnapitae First Nation announce funding to support projects intended to protect nature. Supplied photo

Wahnapitae First Nation will receive $52,205 over two years to undertake baseline investigations into at-risk bat populations through habitat evaluation, field investigations, acoustic monitoring and community outreach.

The activities will take place within boreal forest and lake shoreline habitats and exposed rock structure on Wahnapitae reserve lands.

“We’re pleased to see support for this project, as bats are considered pollinators and they are important for seed dispersal and are considered an effective pest control, as they are able to consume 30 to 50 per cent of their of body weight in one feeding,” said Chief Ted Roque of Wahnapitae First Nation.

“With a desktop habitat evaluation, field investigation, bat detection monitoring, and community outreach, this important project will be the first step towards ensuring that this species is further protected within our area.”

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The Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation will receive $30,000 under the Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk Program to undertake habitat surveys and community outreach focused on at-risk bat species within the territory of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation.

The Henvey Inlet First Nation, in partnership with McMaster University, will receive $99,431 over two years to initiate a coastal wetland monitoring program in support of the Canada-US Greater Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

This funding will support First Nations youth and elders in monitoring within their traditional territory. The project will focus on fish habitat in coastal marches and Blanding’s turtles.

The Shawanaga First Nation will receive $94,749 over two years to monitor the local watershed to protect their walleye fishery and hatchery programs from the increasing impact of climate change on their land.

Through this project, the First Nation will develop an aquatic monitoring program to assess the impacts of pollution, nutrient enrichment and climate change on the Great Lakes environment, and to develop community capacity.

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