Press Release/Communiqué
Redberry
Lake Joins International Network of
Important Bird Areas (IBA)
Saturday
June 12, 1999
For Immediate Release
Redberry
Lake, SK — Redberry Lake received international recognition
today as a globally significant Important Bird Area
(IBA), joining BirdLife International's global network
of IBA sites. The site dedication is part of the Redberry
Pelican Project's 10th anniversary celebrations. Local
area residents are gathering at the Redberry Lake
Regional Park today to honour this spectacular biological
wonder.
"Redberry
Lake contains such rich natural diversity that it
has just been nominated as an international Biosphere
Reserve," said the Ralph Goodale, Minister of
Natural Resources Canada, on behalf of Herb Gray,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for
the Government of Canada's millennium initiative.
"This is one of Canada's national treasures,
and the Government of Canada is proud to support the
conservation of the Redberry Lake Important Bird Area
into the next millennium."
The Important
Bird Areas Program is being delivered in Canada by
the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada.
As part of the Natural Legacy 2000 initiative, the
program has received $1.25 million from the Canada
Millennium Partnership Program.
"Redberry
Lake provides important nesting habitat for a number
of species including the American White Pelican, the
nationally endangered Piping Plover, the White-winged
Scoter, and the Double
Crested Cormorant, among others" said Caroline
Schultz, Director of Conservation Programs at the
Canadian Nature Federation. "In fact, recent
estimates indicate that nearly 2 percent of the entire
world's American White Pelican population reside at
Redberry Lake. It has also been suggested that the
population of White-winged Scoters found at the site
is the single largest breeding concentration in the
world."
Over 200
birders and nature lovers from the surrounding communities
are turning out to celebrate the 10th anniversary
of the Redberry Pelican Project and the IBA dedication.
"We all share a common objective — to develop
sustainable approaches to economic activity that maintain
a balance between the aspirations of our community
and the long-term integrity of the Redberry Lake area"
said Peter Kingsmill, Director General of the Redberry
Pelican Project. The Project has previously received
the Governor General of Canada's Conservation Award,
and the Tourism for Tomorrow award from British Airways.
An IBA
Community Conservation Planner has been hired through
Nature Saskatchewan to develop IBA conservation plans
for a number of Important Bird Areas in the province,
including Redberry Lake. Nature Saskatchewan, the
Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada
will continue to work with the surrounding communities
to implement the plan and ensure that bird populations
remain healthy into the next millennium.
Presentation
of the Redberry Lake IBA dedication plaque will take
place this afternoon at 4:00 pm.
Backgrounder follows.
For more information, please contact:
Christie Chute
Canadian Nature Federation
(613) 562-8208 ext. 245
Peter Kingsmill
Redberry Pelican Project Foundation
(306) 549-2258
Danielle
Thibault
Millennium Bureau of Canada
(613) 995-2154
Web address:
IBA Program: www.ibacanada.com
Redberry Pelican Project Foundation www.ecocanada.com
Canada Millennium Partnership Program: www.millennium.gc.ca
