IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM TAKES OFF!

The Canadian Nature Federation advised the Natural History Society that it was the recipient of a Millennium Partnership Program grant of $1.25 million from the Government of Canada to aid in the establishment of the Important Bird Areas in Canada. This program is designed to identify and protect a network of critical nesting sites, migration staging areas. and wintering grounds for a wide variety of North American bird species. A workshop was hosted September 19-20th, 1997 and the Natural History Society was represented by its President of the time, Dr. Ray Cooke. The results of that initiative are depicted below, namely, a map of Potential IBAs Within the Maritimes.

1 5 Potential IBAs Within the Maritimes

(Approximate Locations)

A portion of the funding will be used to hire a Maritimes Region lBA Community Conservation Planner who would be responsible for working with community gr0ups to develop conservation plans for the 18 lBA sites across the Maritimes. Part of the money will be used to create a Community Action Fund to support the work of local groups and individuals taking on key lBA conservation projects. The New Brunswick Federation of Naturalists, the Federation of Nova Scotia Naturalists and the Natural History Society of Prince Edward island will work on a planning committee with the CNF to develop and implement various aspects of the program in the Maritimes. Ray Cooke has kindly agreed to continue to represent the Society as a member of the regional committee.

7