New Funding Allocations Under the Parks Canada Species at Risk Recovery Action and Education Fund, 2003-04

We are pleased to announce that 57 projects of a total of 86 proposals will be sharing a total amount of  $964,606 in 2003-04 from the Parks Canada Species at Risk Recovery Action and Education Fund. From this amount, $758, 851 will be allocated toward direct recovery projects and          $205,755 toward public education initiatives on species at risk. The list of selected projects is appended.

Applications were reviewed in January by a panel consisting of Stephen Woodley, Patrick Nantel, Peter Achuff, Daniel Rosset, Shawna Lee Currie, Pippa Shepherd, Sylvain Paradis and Larry Halverson. Service Centre species at risk coordinators and proponents were consulted as required. Projects were selected based on their scientific and educational merit, their likelihood of achieving priority recovery goals, and how well they fit with national and regional priorities.

Since we only had limited financial resources to distribute toward these proposals, we were unable to fund all submissions and, in many cases, only partial funding was possible.

We are very encouraged by the strong interest in species at risk in national parks and national historic sites. For those proponents whose projects were not funded this fiscal year, please discuss potential resubmission for next fiscal year with the appropriate Service Centre species at risk coordinator. Service Centre SAR coordinators will assist you in the application process for the different funds that you are eligible for, both internal and external. 

Thank you to the review committee and Service Center SAR coordinators for their hard work.

In order to ensure proper accountability, we ask that you highlight the expenditures associated to your project in the Annual Report for the 2003-04 operational year from your field unit or service centre.

Congratulations to the 23 Field Units and 3 Services Centres which received funds. We look forward to hearing about your successes.

 signed by:

Christina Cameron