The Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance (GBPA) and the Township of Georgian Bay are
pleased to announce that the Township has received $478,000 in funding from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) through the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program (WCPP). The WCPP is a great initiative to help preserve Ontario’s wetlands by working with environmental preservation groups and deploying support to where it needs to go, like Georgian Bay.
“I am very appreciative of the work being undertaken by these organizations. Their efforts will most definitely be visible on the lands by our local marina and the waterways and roadways around our community. We are proudly working together with the Township of Georgian Bay to continue to build a prosperous and healthy environment for the lands around us.“ Chief Rhonda Williams -Lovett, Moose Deer Point First Nation.
This follows months of GBPA advocacy and effort in working with MECP to help preserve the UNESCO designated Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere. The Township of Georgian Bay then drafted a plan in coordination with the MECP. The funding will go towards critical projects administered by partners such as Georgian Bay Forever, Georgian Bay Land Trust, Sustainable Severn, Sound, Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere, and Invasive Phragmites Control.
This funding is a critical step towards ensuring that the wetlands and waterways that feed Georgian Bay are well looked after, which will ensure a positive environmental impact for years to come.
“The Township of Georgian Bay greatly appreciates the support of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in protecting our wetlands, the kidneys of our environment, from the destructive invasive phragmites. Wetlands are absolutely vital to the health of our waters and essential to the survival of many of our threatened wildlife species. This grant was made possible through the limitless advocacy of the Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance and their support to this project and others in the Township of Georgian Bay.”– Peter Koetsier, Mayor, Township of Georgian Bay
