A Valuable New Partnership for the Protection of Lands in Manitoba

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February 13, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Manitoba Region of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Qualico Communities, Winnipeg are pleased to announce their new partnership, established to help protect Manitoba’s natural landscapes.

This partnership will support NCC’s conservation science, land securement and ongoing land stewardship of Natural Areas in the province identified by NCC as having high ecological value. It will provide needed resources to help conserve landscapes under threat.

“Through strong partnerships and generous donors, NCC works to safeguard special natural areas in Manitoba and elsewhere so that our children and grandchildren will have a chance to enjoy them.  Investments in conservation such as that being made by Qualico Communities allow us to continue our work ensuring that special places and habitats in Manitoba remain a home for wildlife, and continue to offer opportunities for recreation while maintaining our ability to use these lands as connections with the natural world”, said Jeff Polakoff, Regional Vice President, NCC Manitoba Region.

“As a developer of new communities, Qualico incorporates several practical, sustainable elements in its residential neighbourhoods, including natural corridors, native grasses in parks and the creation of wetlands for storm water drainage and retention. These provide habitat for wildlife and pleasure for residents while reducing greenhouse gases, erosion and fertilizer use. Partnering with NCC to protect and conserve Manitoba's ecologically significant natural areas is an extension of our belief in and practice of sustainability. We look forward to what we can accomplish together,” stated Eric Vogan, Vice-President, Community Development, Qualico Communities, Winnipeg

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is Canada’s leading national conservation organization. The goal of NCC is to protect Canada’s most important natural areas and the thousands of plants and animals they support. Its conservation success is built on three essential components: conservation science, land securement and ongoing land stewardship.  This science-based, long-term approach guides its work and makes NCC unique. NCC develops Natural Area Conservation Plans (NACPs) that identify Priority Natural Areas which then become the focus of its conservation efforts.

In Manitoba, NCC has protected over 57,000 acres (23,000 hectares) of land within eight Natural Area Conservation Plans.  In each of these natural areas NCC preserves habitat of the highest ecological value by working in partnership with private landowners who wish to conserve the land they value.

Facts

Nature Conservancy of Canada

• A non-profit, charitable organization
• MoneySense magazine again ranked the Nature Conservancy of Canada as Canada’s top environmental charity in its 2013 Charity 100 ranking (July issue)
• Priority Natural Areas in Manitoba include Riding Mountain Aspen Parkland, East Parklands/Fort Ellice, mixed-grass prairie and wetlands in southwestern Manitoba, the Whitemouth River Watershed, the Tall Grass Prairie and the Interlake region
• Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect almost 3 million acres (over 1,000,000 hectares) coast to coast. By investing in conservation, NCC helps ensure that the natural world remains a home for wildlife, a haven for recreation and a vital resource that cleans the air we breathe and water we drink

Qualico Communities, Winnipeg

• Proud supporter of many environmental and charitable organizations as well as community initiatives such as the Qualico Family Centre in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park and neighbourhood community centres such as the Jonathan Toews Community Centre in River Park South
• A division of Qualico, which is a fully integrated real estate development company with businesses across Western Canada and in Austin, Texas
• Qualico is one of the largest real estate development operations in Western Canada
• Qualico is involved in the development of commercial properties ranging from downtown office towers and industrial subdivisions to community and neighbourhood shopping centres
• The company also operates thriving building material sales and manufacturing enterprises

Additional background information is available within the attached NCC Background Info document.

Learn more:

www.natureconservancy.ca
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www.qualicocommunitieswinnipeg.com

Media Contacts:

Jeff Polakoff
Manitoba Regional Vice President
Nature Conservancy of Canada
(204) 942-6156
Jeff.polakoff@natureconservancy.ca

Eric Vogan
Vice-President, Community Development
Qualico Communities, Winnipeg
(204) 254-9267
evogan@qualico.com