December 2, 2009
36 Projects Receive over $567,000 in Funding Support Including
Conference on Caribou, Protection of Traditional Lands, Research
on Bats and Skinks
Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie today announced provincial
funding support of $567,702 for 36 projects around Manitoba
through the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF).
“Manitobans are doing their part to protect the environment and
improve the quality of life within their communities,” Blaikie
said. “The 36 approved projects are all part of the overall goal
to incorporate sustainable development practices into unique and
innovative activities that will protect, enhance, conserve and
rehabilitate Manitoba’s environment for today and the future.”
The SDIF helps fund a wide range of projects from research
studies and demonstrations of new technology to community
enhancement and environmental awareness across a number of
education, non-government and government organizations. Other
targeted funding programs under the SDIF are the Waste Reduction
and Pollution Prevention Fund, Environmental Youth Corps,
Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund and the Water Stewardship
Fund.
More information on these programs is available at
www.susdev.gov.mb.ca.
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INNOVATIONS FUND GRANTS
- Bird Studies Canada – $20,000 for a series of surveys of the golden-winged warbler in Manitoba.
- Brandon University, department of biology – $22,000 for the second year of a research study on endangered prairie skink habitat in southwestern Manitoba.
- Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources – $20,000 to conduct research on species at risk on traditional lands at Lake Manitoba First Nation and to develop awareness and knowledge of the existence and habitat needs of species at risk.
- City of Thompson – $25,000 to develop a sustainable community plan that provides a clear vision, goals and priorities for the future development and growth of the community.
- City of Winnipeg, Naturalist Services Branch – $10,000 to study the possibility of converting low-quality natural areas to native warm-season grass and converting the harvested grass into pellets for use as a fuel source to heat buildings.
- City of Winnipeg, Naturalist Services Branch – $18,500 for the restoration of 7.5 hectares of degraded grassland in a high-traffic area of Winnipeg’s south end to increase awareness of prairie conservation efforts.
- Entomological Society of Manitoba – $8,372 to host a joint meeting of the Entomological Society of Manitoba and the Entomological Society of Canada to showcase cutting-edge research in the field of bee virology.
- Growing Local Productions – $25,000 to produce an educational documentary film on the Mel Johnson School gardening project in Wabowden. The video will assist in promoting health, environmental and social sustainability through education on healthy nutritive food production and consumption in northern Manitoba.
- International Institute for Sustainable Development – $10,000 to implement a sustainable development training program designed to enhance the ability of young professionals to be effective stewards of sustainability.
- Invasive Species Council of Manitoba – $25,000 to establish a Manitoba Early Detection and Rapid Response network to report new invaders or infestations.
- Kraus Global Inc. – $20,000 to design a wireless car-metering device for use in parking lots equipped with electrical outlets for block heaters or plug-in electric hybrids to track power consumption of individual automobiles.
- Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs – $5,000 to host two regional Aboriginal women’s gatherings in preparation for the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit, intended to address environmental, social and economic issues facing Aboriginal women.
- Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives – $10,000 to implement a series of horticulture programs aimed at inner-city neighbourhoods and immigrant communities intended to help achieve food self-sufficiency and consumer awareness on local food.
- Manitoba Forage Council – $2,000 to host a conference in Russell on holistic management in agricultural practices to improve production, generate financial strength, build diversity and enhance the environment.
- Manitoba Forage Council – $2,000 to host a conference in Brandon on sustainable livestock management practices.
- Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak/Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs – $25,000 for the Northern Manitoba Rangers Program to provide basic awareness about employability and training for Aboriginal youth in northern Manitoba’s mining, forestry and energy sectors.
- Manitoba Naturalists Society (Nature Manitoba) – $25,000 to continue the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative, building knowledge on populations and measures to reverse perceived declines.
- Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association – $5,000 to develop the third in a series of manuals to promote and expand zero-till farming in Manitoba and North Dakota.
- Manitoba Science Academy – $5,000 for a summer program for high-school students in environmental and conservational science research.
- North American Caribou Workshop Steering Committee – $10,000 to host the 13th North American Caribou Workshop in Winnipeg that will provide opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience with leading experts.
- Park West School Division – $13,000 to design an outdoor education curriculum for middle-year students with hands-on experiential learning in and around Riding Mountain National Park.
- SEED Winnipeg Inc. – $25,000 for an Aboriginal youth training program providing opportunities to successfully deliver sustainable tourism adventures and provide guiding services for hunting and fishing lodges.
- Sonics and Sojourns – $2,500 for the second annual Fall Festival in Onanole, to provide information on packaging, marketing and environmental sustainability issues.
- Sustainability and Education Academy – $18,000 to host a seminar and workshops on creating a culture of sustainable development for the kindergarten to Grade 12 education system.
- The Ways of Our People Mentoring Program – $10,000 to establish a mentorship and training program for Peguis First Nation youth aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of traditional environmental practices.
- University of Manitoba, department of entomology – $15,000 for research on natural enemies of mosquitoes to control mosquito populations.
- University of Manitoba, department of environment and geography – $25,000 for a study assessing the success rate of peregrine falcons produced in urban centres and captive or managed sources using satellite tracking technology. The study will contribute to the long-term recovery strategy of this endangered species.
- University of Manitoba, department of mechanical engineering – $12,180 to continue research into wind energy as an alternative fuel with the installation of a five-kilowatt wind-energy system at the university’s Eco-Village.
- University of Manitoba, department of mechanical engineering – $15,150 to research vegetable oils and diesel fuel injectors.
- University of Manitoba, department of soil science – $25,000 to conduct a study of manure in soils.
- University of Manitoba, Natural Resources Institute – $25,000 for year two of a research study on the effects of cattle grazing on prairie bird community areas. The loss of prairies has been a leading cause of the dramatic declines observed in most species of prairie birds.
- University of Manitoba, Natural Resources Institute – $25,000 for a two-year study on the yellow rail, a prairie bird listed as a species of special concern due to significant population declines.
- University of Winnipeg, Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research – $18,000 for the third year of a study to determine potential impacts of wind power on forest bat populations in Manitoba.
- University of Winnipeg, department of biology – $25,000 for a program to increase populations of the burrowing owl, which is listed as both federally and provincially endangered.
- University of Winnipeg, department of biology – $16,000 to compare growth, resilience to climate change and contribution to regional biodiversity of plantations and natural stands of red and jack pine, and white spruce in southeast Manitoba.
- Wawanesa School – $5,000 to expand the school’s drafting design program for high-school students by incorporating real world projects, such as evaluating trailers for wind-drag calculations and calculating the fuel efficiency of various trailer designs.