Beloved by Canadians, Canada’s 451 native bird species keep forests and ecosystems healthy through pest control, pollination, seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. However, North America has lost one third of its wild birds since 1970, mainly due to human- related actions. Keeping healthy populations of migratory birds is a federal responsibility through the Migratory Bird Convention Act (1917, 1994). It is time to invest in birds.
The Green Budget Coalition recommends targeted investments to end declines and restore bird populations to healthy levels.
Total Recommended Investment:
$18 million over four years [ECCC – Canadian Wildlife Service]:
- Mitigate human-related bird mortality in urban, agricultural and other human-altered landscapes in Canada by funding coordinated efforts and programs that promote individual and collective actions and policies at the community and municipal levels, restoring habitat integrity, recovering threatened species, and keeping common birds common – $8 million over four years;
- Maintain strong science programs to inform conservation efforts – $8 million over four years;
- Support Indigenous-led conservation and management of migratory bird habitat domestically and internationally – $2 million over four years; and
- Support protection of wintering habitat for Canada’s migratory birds in Latin America— see Canada’s international commitments on climate and biodiversity, later in this document.