By Frank Giorno for www.wachaynews.com
Mushkegowuk Council’s Lands and Resources Office's second annual Indigenous Lands Symposium in Timmins, Ontario this week examined proposals for working towards a sustainable conservation economy on the Hudson Bay-James Bay coast.
The Omushkego Wahkohtowin Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) plans to focus on protecting marine and lowland areas of the Hudson and James Bay region,” said Troy Woodhouse Assistant Terrestrial Region Manager. “Those lowlands are the second largest carbon sink on the planet, storing more than 30 million tonnes of carbon. The wetlands also act as a filter for the rivers in the area.”
The Mushkegowuk Lands and Resources strategy for building a conservation economy strives for economic growth through activities such as ecotourism, fisheries, small-scale logging, and even sustainable mining in support of a greener economy.
In 2022, the Canadian government made available $800 million in funding for four PFP projects across the country in 2022.
The program is based on Indigenous leadership in conservation.
“Indigenous peoples have been caring for the lands and waters of Canada since time immemorial. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis worldviews foster unique relationships with nature. Responsible stewardship is more than just good practice—it is a way of life and tied to cultural identity ” reads the Canadian government's news release announcing the program.
“By working together, we are supporting Indigenous peoples to protect more nature across the country. We are advancing reconciliation while helping ensure the world we leave to future generations is healthy and safe.”
The PFP model features
- Agreement on a shared vision
- Identifying and realizing collective goals for protecting nature and halting biodiversity loss,
- Exploring opportunities for sustainable resource development
The PFP program's goal is to contribute to the conservation of 30% of lands and oceans by 2030 and to respect Indigenous peoples’ cultures, traditional knowledge, and rights over lands, territories, and resources.
The first PFP was awarded to the Great Bear Rainforest PFP in Northern British Columbia. It has created 1,200 new jobs and supported 130 new businesses in the region.
For more information on the PFP program please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/nature-legacy/about/project-finance-for-permanence.html
According to Woodhouse, Mushkegowuk Council hopes to apply and be accepted for one of the remaining three PFP projects by the summer of 2024 which would mean a $200 million investment for the region.
The Hudson Bay-James Bay area contains deposits of critical minerals such as lithium that are vital for the transition to a green economy featuring electric vehicles and carbon-free energy.
There are no lithium mines in Northeastern Ontario. Currently, there are four lithium mining projects on the Quebec side of James Bay.
Lands and Resources believe that mining and conservation can work hand in hand said Woodhouse.
Mushkegowuk Council has been working for years to protect the waters and lands around James Bay and Hudson Bay, including signing a memorandum of understanding with Parks Canada to launch a feasibility study to create a National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in 2021.
For the James Bay - Hudson Bay PFP proposal, the Ontario government will likely be involved since forestry and mining activities are in provincial jurisdiction. The details of how the Ontario government will participate have not yet been finalized.
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