Canada recognizes First Nations leadership in conservation with $600,000 fund for IGPP
Ottawa/IBNS: A sum of $600,000 was announced by the government of Canada on Thursday to fund 10 new indigenous projects across the country for the period 2020–2021 in the First Nations tier 1 stream under the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program ( IGPP), media reports said.
The selection of 10 successful projects out of more than 100 proposals was done -- using rigorous criteria for their benefit to Indigenous communities and sustainability -- by a joint working group of First Nations experts and federal representatives .
"Indigenous Peoples have protected nature since time immemorial, which is why we are pleased to support their leadership in safeguarding our natural environment—for now and for generations to come,” Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change said in a news release.
IGPP aims to advance Indigenous-led work for the protection and conservation of ecosystems in developing sustainable economies and reinforce the cultural connection to the land.
"It means...more lands and waters will be managed for the benefit of all, ” Valérie Courtois, Director of Indigenous Leadership Initiative said in the news release.
The funding together with the fact that territories of indigenous people comprise about 80 percent of the world’s remaining forest biodiversity, would result in creation of both seasonal and full-time employment opportunities for the indigenous people.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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