June 22, 2010
The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation celebrates the signing of its 500th Conservation Agreement in Manitoba
(L-R) John Whittaker (Chair of MHHC's Board), Herb Goulden (MHHC), Keith Proven (landowner), Tim Sopuck (MHHC CEO), Lorne Colpitts (MHHC retired), Jim Fisher (Delta Waterfowl Director of Conservation Policy)
With the signing of its 500th Conservation Agreement on June 15th at the Manitoba Legislature Building, MHHC continues its role as a leader in delivering weltand easements in Prairie Canada. Jim Proven, whose family farm is near Erickson, Manitoba, signed the 500th agreement. Jim’s son Keith who has been farming the land for 40 years, recalls countless occasions when his father Jim came in from the field to describe an amazing wildlife encounter. He describes his father as someone that always enjoyed sharing the land with nature. Jim recently passed away but his interests in the land have been passed along through the agreement.
“The Proven family exemplifies the connection that farm families have with nature.” said MHHC’s CEO Tim Sopuck. “They want to ensure the wetland and associated upland habitat are there in the long-run and we are pleased to enable that.”
This marks an incredible achievement considering legislation for Conservation Agreements was passed just over ten years ago. This work is integral to the protection of prairie potholes in southwestern Manitoba, the area of highest breeding densities of ducks in the province, and a key source area for ducks in the Central, Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways. While prairie potholes in the US have been protected using similar efforts dating back to the 1950s, this is a relatively new effort on the Canadian side of the prairie pothole region.
Delta and MHHC were partners on the signing of the very first permanent wetland easment purchase in Manitoba with landowner Rick Nylen of Minnedosa in the summer of 1999. Since then the MHHC has protected nearly 90,000 acres of wildlife habitat with 7 million dollars, primarily in the southwestern part of Manitoba in the prairie pothole region. This program is the largest of its kind in Prairie Canada in protecting small, vulnerable wetlands. Delta uses it’s Adopt A Pothole program to funnel money to the MHHC to pay landowners to protect potholes. Through this partnership effort, Delta’s members protect wetlands forever - a real conservation legacy.
‘We are very lucky to have such a great partner in MHHC, as it is setting the standard in doing cost-effective wetland easement work in Canada.” states Delta’s president, Rob Olson. “From our perspective there is nothing more important than protecting vulnerable wetlands in prairie Canada and we commend both MHHC as well as the landowners who have agreed to do so. Thanks to the support of the provincial government and all of the funding partners, MHHC continues to do a fantastic job.”
Duck stamp funds from the state of Illinois, Wisconsin and Louisiana have all contributed to this effort. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act has provided annual grants to this effort since its inception and is vital to the process. Additional contributors to MHHC’s effort include the Manitoba government through both Conservation and Water Stewardship, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Ducks Unlimited, and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Thanks to all of you who have contributed to this effort, it is truly gratifying to be a part of it and leaving a legacy to future generations of conservationists of North America.