Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund to support 22 vital nature conservation projects. Brandon Smith/Dreamstime.com

By Jayk Sterkenburg

PROVINCE

Environmental Damages Fund focused on restoring 22 projects across Canada

Feb 17, 2025 | 9:04 AM

Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund announced Monday that over $12.2 million will be contributed to 22 projects across the country.

Steven Guilbeault, minister of environment and climate change, said that the fund will focus on restoring or improving the natural environment.

“Our government is committed to taking concrete action to conserve wildlife and restore our natural environment,” he said in a statement Monday.

The funding will prioritize supporting wildlife, improving environmental quality, and research and development leading to restoration.

Guilbeault said that, thanks to the fund, they are supporting projects across the country that promote biodiversity, Indigenous-led conservation, and local environmental action in ecosystems where damage has occurred.

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The projects are led by 14 non-governmental organizations, six Indigenous organizations, one municipality, and one university.

They will focus on protecting nature, restoring habitats, and preserving wildlife populations.

The Canadian government said that it’s estimated that the projects will reduce or divert 144,710 kg of toxic or harmful waste from the environment.

They will reduce 5,191 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions — the equivalent of taking nearly 1,600 gas cars off the road.

It said the projects will monitor, assess, and direct studies carried out on 127,265 hectares of habitat and provide restoration and management action on 2,670 hectares of habitat.

They will implement environmental quality improvement activities on 17,824 hectares of habitat.

The Canadian government said that it is committed to protecting the natural environment from threats to the country’s land, wildlife, waterways, and communities.

Canada’s EDF is working to ensure that environmental good follows environmental harm by supporting important projects that protect Canadian wildlife and natural spaces.

The fund uses fines from environmental infractions to support projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment, typically in the area where the violation occurred.