The Government of Canada announced $25 million dollars in funding over the next three years directed toward three environmental projects in the prairies, including one in Saskatchewan.

Ducks Unlimited Canada will receive up to $19.28 million, just over $4 million will be given to Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corp will receive $2.4 million.

Nature Conservancy of Canada will use the funds for a project in the RM of Key West, which is located just south of Moose Jaw and east of Assiniboia, and will be used to restore 45 hectares of prairie grassland.

Highlighted is the RM of Key West, located southeast of Moose Jaw. (Courtesy of Google Maps)

Kevin Teneycke is the vice president of Nature Conservancy of Canada.

"Organizations like Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, and many others have long been working in partnership with governments to conserve spaces that matter and reduce the impacts of climate change. This important funding comes at a time when the threat of climate change is more apparent than ever. These actions will provide macro-climate benefits as they pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it. They'll provide local climate benefits through enhanced flood and drought mitigation, local economies will also benefit as the work will require goods and services from local services, and let's not forget the many plants and animals who also stand to gain."

According to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the surrounding communities will benefit by being buffered from extreme weather events, local producers will be able to use the lands, the restoration industry will benefit, and the work on the land will create jobs.

Teneycke says that though the funding announcement is a major one, there is still more work to be done.

"Nature Conservancy of Canada will seize on the opportunities that this funding will produce by matching contributions from our generous donors to address several priorities, including expanding restoration efforts in south-central Saskatchewan, and we will work to protect natural habitat, aiming to conserve over 1,900 new hectares over the next three years."

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food spoke at the announcement as well.

"The current extreme weather conditions and fires throughout Canada are one of the impacts of the changing climate," she said. "As our wetlands and grasslands are important components of the farming ecosystem, the work done through these Nature Smart Climate Solutions investments, as well as our Agricultural Climate Solutions projects, will sequester carbon and help ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for our land and waterways, as well as for the farmers who rely on them to feed Canadians."