Volunteers recognized for their work

Volunteers who work tirelessly for the conservation of nature and wildlife are being recognized by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in Saskatchewan to mark National Wildlife Week and National Volunteer Week, both coinciding on April 10-16, 2016.

Through this recognition, NCC in Saskatchewan pays tribute to its many volunteers who dedicate their time and talents each year to help NCC conserve and steward natural lands and their diverse wildlife species.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Birds Convention Act between Canada and the United States of America, marking a century since the signing of the first international treaty to conserve wildlife.

“It’s no coincidence that these National Weeks coincide,” said Mark Wartman, Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Regional Vice President in Saskatchewan. “It is both appropriate and substantial, as our volunteers pitch in and make a huge contribution to the conservation of nature and to NCC’s work in this province and across the country.”

“One hundred years of land and wildlife conservation is a great milestone. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is more than half the way there with land conservation that began in 1962, over 50 years ago!. Our volunteers are a fundamental part of our charitable work.” Wartman added.

Some volunteers with NCC are helping to lead and advise by serving on our national and regional boards, committees and science advisory networks.

Others are private landowners and managers who sometimes work behind the scenes with us, considering how to individually contribute to land conservation and wildlife habitat management. The popular and familiar way to volunteer with the Nature Conservancy of Canada is to join Saskatchewan staff at Conservation Volunteer (CV) events throughout the warmer seasons.

These events are designed to help conserve NCC’s natural areas and offer volunteers a blend of new experiences and skill-building in some of Saskatchewan’s most scenic and peaceful natural areas. During CV events, volunteers may count butterflies or inventory bird species, maybe even learn some trade skills, as they repair a fence or build birdnest boxes. Volunteers almost always make new friends at the same time.

To recognize National Volunteer Week, SaskEnergy, long-standing partner with NCC, will host displays from local non-profit organizations — including NCC — to raise awareness and inspire all ages of volunteers at SaskEnergy Place, 1777 Victoria Avenue.



FACTS:

In Saskatchewan, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has conserved over 150,000 acres (60,700 hectares) of ecologically significant land through land donations, purchases and conservation agreements.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada owns and manages properties in many southern and central Saskatchewan communities around the Quill Lakes, Shaunavon, Hafford, Prince Albert, Carlyle, Claydon, Maple Creek, Wynyard, Edenwold, Maymont and more. We provide public, on-foot access on almost all of our properties.

For six consecutive years, MoneySense Magazine has ranked the NCC the top Canadian environmental charity in its annual evaluation of the top 100 charities across the country. Eight-three per cent of donations to NCC go directly to on-the-ground conservation of Canada’s natural spaces and wildilfe, including species at risk.  NCC conserves land in perpetuity — our living heritage — so donations and volunteer efforts can literally last forever!

NCC is conserving habitat for 201 species at risk with habitat for 195 of these species conserved by NCC through the Government of Canada’s Natural Areas Conservation Program.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation’s leading private, non-for-profit private land conservation organization, protecting vital natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped protect more than 2.8 million acres (1.1 million hectares), coast to coast.

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