CPAWS Yukon pleased to see nature investments as key part of Budget 2021
Whitehorse, Yukon – The Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS Yukon) is pleased to see the federal government provide historic investments in nature conservation; announced today by the federal government as part of Budget 2021.
Budget 2021 proposes to provide the Yukon Government with $25 million in 2021-2022 to support climate change priorities, $2.3 billion nationwide over 5 years to reach targets of 25% protection of land by 2025 and puts special emphasis on Indigenous Guardians programs and working with Indigenous peoples to address species at risk.
The funding announced today also underscores the value of investing in nature conservation as part of pandemic recovery.
As the COVID19 pandemic forced Yukoners to change their way of life, wild spaces played a key role in helping us cope. The evidence is clear that such investments in establishing and managing protected areas, Indigenous-led conversation, and Indigenous Guardian programs are critical to stemming loss of wild spaces and providing Yukoners with improved mental and physical health. These investments in conservation will help ensure that nature will continue to help Yukoners.
“The new Yukon Government will have a golden opportunity to set ambitious conservation targets and meet our climate goals while growing our green economy. Through land use planning and other tools, the Yukon is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these commitments and to ensure a lasting legacy for generations to come” said Chris Rider, Executive Director of the Yukon Chapter.
Today’s funding announcement added onto the funding from Budget 2018 represents the largest investment in nature conservation in Canada’s history.
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Contact
Adil Darvesh | Communications Coordinator, CPAWS Yukon
867-393-8080 x9 | adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org
View Budget 2021 here: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2021/