CONSERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT: A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE

The province has released a major part of its environmental blueprint for the future. The Biodiversity Action Plan will guide the conservation actions of all government sectors for the next five years, through to 2009.

Biodiversity includes all species of plants and animals and how they interact with and rely on one another and their environment for survival.

"Biological diversity is an important source of natural wealth for the province," Environment Minister David Forbes said. "Healthy soil, productive forests and grasslands, and clean air and water are some of the benefits of a healthy environment. If we manage these resources wisely they will continue to support us. The cost of fixing environmental problems in the future, assuming we can, will be more expensive than acting now to conserve biodiversity."

In Saskatchewan, demand for access to biological resources is increasing. In order to conserve biodiversity, our use of these resources must be sustainable.

"The Biodiversity Action Plan is a good blueprint for the future," Forbes said. "The tools we use to meet the challenge of conserving biodiversity will continue to grow and evolve as time passes and our resource needs and ecological understanding increase. It is important that we meet this challenge because a healthy environment is the foundation of a green and prosperous economy."

Saskatchewan's Biodiversity Action Plan is the Saskatchewan-made complement to the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy and builds on the actions of individuals and industry that are already underway. The United Nations has also recognized the importance of biodiversity by establishing May 22nd as the International Day for Biodiversity.

For more information contact:

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For More Information, Contact:

Art Jones Environment Regina Phone: (306) 787-5796