The provincial government is providing funding to better conserve green spaces in the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula.
MPPs Bill Walker and Lisa Thompson were joined virtually by Jeff Yurek, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, on Wednesday.
They announced Ontario is investing $20 million over the next four years in the Greenlands Conservation Partnership to help secure land considered to be of ecological importance.
"We are expanding the amount of green space across the province not only to help preserve the environment, but to promote physical activity such as hiking and improving our mental health," said Yurek.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance will use private donations and funds from other non-provincial sources to match the provincial investment to secure new privately-owned natural areas and restore and manage these properties.
"I am thrilled our government is working with partners and conservation leaders to protect our natural areas," said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker. "Our area has some of the richest biodiversity in the Great Lakes region and I want to thank Minister Yurek for this investment."
"With the Greenlands Conservation Partnership, the Nature Conservancy of Canada is pleased to work with the Government of Ontario as well as our partners and donors to ensure that Ontario's special places are protected and conserved for future generations," said Mike Hendren, Regional Vice President Ontario, Nature Conservancy of Canada.
