1. Acting on energy and climate change
2. Protecting our water
3. Protecting our natural areas
4. Reducing waste and preventing pollution
5. Growing a sustainable, prosperous economy
6. Fostering a green and healthy society
7. Greening the provincial government

Like our water resources, our natural areas are an important part of our heritage and our way of life. These areas maintain traditional lifestyles such as hunting and trapping, offer recreational and ecotourism opportunities, provide habitat for wildlife and plant populations and keep Manitoba's ecosystems healthy.

Manitoba works hard to protect our natural areas by establishing parks, protected areas and wildlife designations, by instituting sustainable land planning and management practices or by simply creating trails that allow Manitobans to experience nature first-hand. In addition to providing important protection for our natural areas, these initiatives also help support a growing ecotourism industry now estimated to generate over $200 billion worldwide annually and growing at a rate of 29% in Canada over the past few years.

We want to continue to expand opportunities to steward our natural areas. As we do so, we want to pay special attention to those areas that are under threat from climate change, such as the boreal forest, wetlands and the North. This will help ensure our rich natural heritage is there for future generations of Manitobans.

Parks and Protected Areas

From the tundra of Wapusk National Park to the boreal shield of Atikaki Wilderness Park to the semi-desert of Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Manitoba boasts a diverse natural landscape. Our network of protected areas includes 14 park reserves, two national parks, 43 protected wildlife management areas, 21 ecological reserves and two provincial forests. As well, 28 of our 80 provincial parks have protected status. We are working hard to protect our pristine wilderness areas for future generations while providing sustainable access to natural areas for Manitobans to enjoy today.

In addition to a long-standing commitment to our parks, the Manitoba government, along with local First Nations, has announced support for the nomination of a UNESCO World Heritage site on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

Both inside and outside of parks and protected areas, Manitoba's wildlife needs special protection. In 2000, legislation was passed to ban the practice of penned hunting of wild animals and in 2002 legislation was passed to better protect our polar bears. In addition, special management plans have been developed for species that the province designates as threatened.

Ecological reserves, such as Little George Island, have been specifically designated to protect nesting birds such as the Caspian Tern. A Watchable Wildlife program has also been launched to provide better opportunities for Manitobans and visitors to learn about our wide range of wildlife species - from garter snakes to polar bears.

Apart from designating six new provincial parks since 1999, the government has moved significantly on new and expanded park and ecological reserves - like the expansion of Delta Marsh and Tall Grass Prairie Preserve and the protection of urban green spaces like Bois Des Esprits and Omand's Creek.

We will build on this by:

• setting the goal of permanently designating five new, major protected areas by 2010 - adding to our growing network, including the six provincial parks designated since 1999
• continuing to increase the number of ecological reserves, adding to the five designated since 1999, as well as designating new wildlife management areas
• expanding the number of rivers with special status, including designation of the Hayes as a Canadian heritage river
• introducing new special protection and management designations that recognize unique areas such as Little Limestone Lake, the traditional territories of Little Grand and Pauingassi First Nations, sacred sites and urban green spaces
• building on the foundation of ecotourism training offered since 2002 at Keewatin Community College and further promoting ecotourism opportunities throughout the province

Sustaining our Forests

Manitoba has developed forest renewal rules that are among the strongest in the country by moving toward standards for mixed wood and hardwood stands, not just softwood, to ensure we maintain our diverse mosaic of forest stands across the province. Manitoba actively monitors forestry activities to ensure all harvested areas are actually properly surveyed so that these strong standards are able to be maintained and enforced. We have also implemented a new approach to calculating how much forest can be harvested by modelling forest growth based on actual local forest studies. This approach allows us to better determine the impact of proposed harvesting on the environment, including wildlife habitats and biodiversity.

Manitoba's Boreal Forest and the East Side

Ninety per cent of the east side of Lake Winnipeg falls within the boreal shield ecosystem. The area is home to 36,000 people - 96% of whom are First Nation. The area is unique because it is a part of our province that is a largely inaccessible and undeveloped landscape adjacent to fully developed areas. At the same time, it is also an area that is particularly threatened by the impacts of climate change. By 2050, it is predicted that much of the southern and northern parts of the boreal forest could be lost. Winter ice roads already have shorter seasons that negatively impact transportation safety as well as the cost of getting critical supplies to communities. Action must be taken today to protect this important and valuable area of our province.

In recognition of the critical factors affecting the east side of Lake Winnipeg, development decisions were put on hold to carefully plan for the future of the area through the East Side Planning Process. The process involved 80 community meetings as well as meetings with elders, holding a council with representatives of all 16 First Nations on the east side and a round table of stakeholders.

The report that followed told us that communities want to both sustain the land and have opportunities for community based economic development. With high rates of unemployment, high costs of food distribution and growing costs of health services, stewardship of the land and sustainable economic development are critical to the ongoing survival of east side communities.

As a result of these recommendations, the process was renamed Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawin (WNO) to reflect the important role of First Nations in the stewardship of this unique area. Together, the WNO and the Manitoba government are developing a package of initiatives to support communities and the land where they live.

Some communities have put forward a proposal to have their traditional territories, along with Atikaki Wilderness Park and land on the Ontario side of the border, nominated for a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Manitoba government supports this effort and has brought together First Nations governments and the governments of Ontario and Canada to further this work.

A land planning initiative is also proposed that will combine traditional and western scientific knowledge to inform future decision making. This program is also intended to provide local job and training opportunities for future community based resource management.

In addition, sustainable economic opportunities will be pursued including energy efficiency and green energy projects, community based sustainable forestry activities and ecotourism. Work is also underway to provide special designations for sacred sites throughout the East Side area and forest harvesting is now limited to low historic levels pending recommendations from community plans, currently being developed.

The boreal forest is also being sustained through careful resource management. For example, there is no timber harvesting in a major part of the east side, pending the outcome of the Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawim (East Side planning) process. Several timber companies are currently seeking Forest Stewardship Council certification and are working closely with First Nations communities on local forestry opportunities, in keeping with Manitoba's Sustainable Forestry strategy. Non-timber forest products including teas, soaps and craftwork are being promoted through the Northern Forest Diversification Centre established in The Pas in 2001.

We will build on this by:

• moving forward with First Nations on the proposed UNESCO world heritage site on the east side of Lake Winnipeg
• providing formal support for the goals of the Canadian Boreal Initiative
• ensuring as hydropower development in Manitoba expands that the east side boreal area remains intact and not harmed by any new electricity transmission projects
• working with First Nations communities in the east side area to aggressively promote local sustainable economic development and land use planning
• helping to fund community plans for the east side as part of the Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawim process
• expanding the successful River Stewards program, currently operating on the Manigotagan River, to other east side communities.

Recreational spaces

Manitoba has an extensive network of trails for walking, hiking, biking and skiing. Since 1999, investments have been made in approximately 60 new and existing trails including the Trans Canada Trail. Not only do these trails help us explore Manitoba's natural beauty, they also help us maintain a healthy lifestyle. In addition, recreational trails provide opportunities for local communities to promote tourism and ecotourism.

The Recreational Trail Property Owners Protection Act was recently passed to make it easier to create and maintain trails on private lands. In the coming years, Manitoba's network of trails will continue to be enhanced with a special focus on urban trails and green spaces. Manitobans are also avid campers and the government has improved more than 300 camping spaces since 1999 - expanding opportunities for Manitobans to enjoy our natural environment.

We will build on this by:

• working with the City of Winnipeg to expand our network of urban trails including multi-use trails along the newly expanded floodway and trails from downtown to the University of Manitoba that will be part of the WinSmart initiative
• continuing to improve provincial campgrounds, expanding and enhancing provincial park facilities including campgrounds and trails