PROVINCE INVESTS IN TALL GRASS PRAIRIE RESTORATION, PRESERVATION OF BURROWING OWL

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Sustainable Development Innovations Fund Grants Announced

The province will provide over $400,000 for 28 project grants around Manitoba through the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF) including an initiative to restore native prairie vegetation in Winnipeg’s Henteleff Park, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

 

Henteleff Park is a 40-acre site along the Red River in the south St. Vital area of Winnipeg. The site was designated as a park in 2002 and since that time, work has been undertaken to rehabilitate the site and install walking trails and interpretive signage. The organization is receiving $24,160 for the two-year initiative.

 

“Grant funding from the SDIF will assist in planting tall grass prairie on formerly cultivated land and restoring and stabilizing the banks of Normand Creek,” the minister said. “This prairie restoration will benefit the urban environment, add to species diversity and provide visual, interpretive and educational opportunities for all who visit.”

 

“We are delighted with the province’s support of our park restoration,” said Yude Henteleff, past president and fundraising chair of the Henteleff Park Foundation. “The park is becoming the gem that we hoped it would be.”

 

SDIF supports a diverse range of projects from research studies and demonstrations of new technology to community enhancement and environmental awareness.  This round of SDIF projects covers a wide variety of subjects including the impact of climate change during the ice age and the preservation of the rare burrowing owl. 

 

As well, schools, organizations and governments will be running a number of projects with funding support from the SDIF. Other targeted funding programs under the SDIF are the:

·         Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Fund;

·         Environmental Youth Corps;

·         Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund; and

·         Water Stewardship Fund.

 

More information on these programs is available at www.susdev.gov.mb.ca.

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