[UPDATED: May 1, 2023] Projects related to the Manitoba grazing sector were big winners in the latest round of funding from the province’s conservation trusts.
Projects totalling $1.2 million, including $400,000 to the Manitoba Beef producers, will support various conservation efforts on the province’s rangelands.
“We were very happy with this announcement,” said Carson Callum, Manitoba Beef Producers general manager. The money expands the funds MBP has received through the Conservation Trust over the last three years.
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“It’s allowing more funds to be put to grassland conservation and enhancing habitat for all those that use it, including cattle, species at risk and other important species on that land,” Carson said.
Why it matters: Land, water and wildlife conservation projects can enhance soil fertility, nutrient cycling and forage availability, providing benefits to farmers.
The agriculture-based projects were part of a larger $10.36 million funding announcement that included $2.79 million for the Conservation Trust and $7.57 million for the Growing Outcomes in Watersheds (GROW) Trust.
Funding comes from three endowments, totaling $204 million, that were put under the stewardship of the Winnipeg Foundation between 2018 and 2020.
“These investments in nature-based solutions provide new opportunities to deliver on-the-ground actions to improve wildlife, water, and soil conservation across the province,” said Stephen Carlyle, chief executive officer of the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation.
The agriculture-based projects include:
- $400,000 to Manitoba Beef Producers to support projects that help cattle producers conserve grasslands and enhance habitat for threatened and endangered birds;
- $400,000 to the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures, to advance sustainable range management objectives on Manitoba’s community pastures;
- $400,000 to Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc., to amplify success in grassland restoration and enhancement, connecting extension, agronomy, and incentive programs
- $200,000 to the Manitoba Organic Alliance for improving soil stewardship on Manitoba farms, and
- $196,600 to The Nature Conservancy of Canada for two projects, one to improve grazing management systems and conserve wetland and forest habitat in the Interlake, and the other to enhance grazing systems to support grassland biodiversity.
“I see we have some of those recipients here today,” said Carlyle during his address at the press conference. “Manitoba Beef Producers are receiving more than $400,000 to provide funding to ranchers to support practices that benefit our environment and hopefully their bottom line because cattle producers are really core conservationists here in our province,” he said.
While the listed agriculture-specific projects are all part of Conservation Trust funding, there were several more “agriculture-adjacent” projects funded.
These include $2.2 million to the Assiniboine West Watershed District to conserve wetlands and focus on improving water quality and building flood and drought resiliency, and $1.3 million to the Souris River Watershed District to enhance flood and drought resiliency, increase biodiversity and habitat, and increase carbon sequestration.
*The GROW Trust funds are delivered through Manitoba’s watershed districts and executive director Lynda Nicol said she’s excited about what it can achieve.
“The projects announced to be delivered in 11 watershed districts across the province are of tremendous value … there are tremendous programs available that are funded by the GROW Trust through watershed districts,” she said.
The $10.36 million is being matched by $16.9 million in funds and services by the groups, which will result in $27.26 million worth of conservation activity in Manitoba. Since the inception of the trust funding in 2019, $38.6 million has been committed to 182 conservation projects delivered by 47 Manitoba-based groups.
“Ultimately, it’s to help all Manitobans be more resilient to climate change,” said Carlyle. “So I’d like to thank you for this opportunity. And I really do want to recognize all of the conservation partners who are receiving funds today and implementing this made-in-Manitoba approach to conservation.”
*Update: a clarification to how GROW Trust funds are distributed was added.
