Thanks to universities, conservation funds and community organizations, funding is going to wildlife habitats around the province.

The Habitats Conservation Fund is putting more than $220,000 to fifteen projects around Nova Scotia. It’s to support research, education and land acquisition to help conserve wildlife and its habitat. The fund is supported by the sale of wildlife habitat stamps that are required to hunt, trap or snare in Nova Scotia.

“Biodiversity is a priority for us and that’s why we invest in projects that make sure our wildlife has appropriate places to live and thrive in Nova Scotia,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “I want to thank all the groups that are advancing projects that help with habitat conservation, as well as hunters and trappers who help make these projects possible by buying their wildlife habitat stamps.”

Cindy Staicer, an ecology researcher at Dalhousie University is leading research on the conservation of habitat for landbirds at risk, in timber harvesting areas.

With a grant of $18,750, her project focuses on five species at risk:

canada warbler

common nighthawk

eastern wood-pewee

olive-sided flycatcher

rusty blackbird.

“The fund will enable us to conserve habitat for landbird species at risk in the working forests of Nova Scotia. Our project’s goal is to support both the birds and forestry by incorporating beneficial management practices into harvesting operations. The practices we are testing, in collaboration with the forest industry, are designed to retain key features of breeding habitat for these birds,” Staicer said.

The Habitat Conservation Fund accepts donations as well as monetary gifts. Sometimes land is bought and sold to support the fund.

Since 2000, the fund has awarded about $3.8 million to support wildlife and habitat conservation projects.