The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced $15 million in funding from Canada over 3 years to Birds Canada to support biodiversity and the health of ecosystems in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Peru through the Conserva Aves initiative.
Conserva Aves will help members of communities, particularly women, Indigenous people, and Afro-descendant people, conserve more than 2 million hectares of land spanning a variety of biodiverse ecosystems in 100 key sites across the Latin American and Caribbean region.
“As we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, Canada remains dedicated to promoting environmental conservation at home and around the world. Our partnership with Birds Canada and involvement in the Conserva Aves initiative will not only protect biodiversity in Latin America but also safeguard approximately 50 species of migrating birds and help create a healthier ecosystem,” Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development.
This comes at a time when the region is facing increasing threats to its biodiversity that are disrupting natural systems and animal species, as well as the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. These threats are impacting the health of migratory bird populations—many of which live in Canada for part of the year.
The initiative supports Canada’s commitments under its International Biodiversity Program, which seeks to improve biodiversity and the health of ecosystems, on which people depend, specifically in the most vulnerable regions of the world.
“Migratory bird species play an essential role in maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems for our planet. Birds are the chorus to nature’s biodiversity, and they enrich our lives. Migratory birds spend a large part of their lives outside Canada, and the funding announced today is crucial to continuing our work with other countries on conservation actions. As birds know no borders, collaboration is essential to building a nature-positive future for lasting impacts on bird populations in Canada and around the world,” Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Minister Hussein made the announcement at an event hosted by Birds Canada to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity. The event brought together national and international leaders committed to advancing environmental conservation and sustainable development.