, nativename_a = , nativename_r = , logo = , logo_width = , logo_caption = , seal = , seal_width = , seal_caption = , picture = , picture_width = , picture_caption = , formed = , preceding1 = Department of Sustainable Development , preceding2 = Department of Conservation and Water Stewardship , preceding3 = Department of Conservation , preceding4 = Department of Conservation and Climate , preceding5 = Department of Environment, Climate and Parks , dissolved = , superseding = , jurisdiction =

Government of Manitoba The powers and structure of the provincial Government of Manitoba (french: Gouvernement du Manitoba) are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867. In modern Canadian use, the term "government" referred broadly to the cabinet of the day (formally ...

, headquarters =

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

, coordinates = , employees = 1,688 (1,053.57 FTE) (2009-2010) , budget =

CAD$ The Canadian dollar (currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, code: CAD; french: dollar canadien) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, there is no standard disambiguating form, but the abbreviation Can ...

135 million (2009-2010) , minister1_name = Tracy Schmidt , minister1_pfo = Minister of Environment and Climate , minister2_name = , minister2_pfo = , deputyminister1_name = Jan Forster , deputyminister1_pfo = Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate , deputyminister2_name = , deputyminister2_pfo = , chief1_name = , chief1_position = , chief2_name = , chief2_position = , chief3_name = , chief3_position = , chief4_name = , chief4_position = , chief5_name = , chief5_position = , chief6_name = , agency_type = , chief6_position = , chief7_name = , chief7_position = , chief8_name = , chief8_position = , chief9_name = , chief9_position = , parent_department = , parent_agency = , child1_agency = , child2_agency = , keydocument1 = , website = , footnotes = , map = , map_width = , map_caption = Manitoba Environment and Climate Change (or Department of Environment and Climate Change, french: Ministère de l'Environnement et Climat, label=; formerly the Department of Conservation and Climate) is a department of the

that is responsible for the management and protection of

wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animal species (biology), species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous ...

, water,

species at risk The List of Wildlife Species at Risk currently has more than 800 entries for Canadian wild life species considered vulnerable; including 363 classified as endangered species, —190 threatened species, —235 special concern, and 22 extirpated ( ...

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. Th ...

, and other matters related to environmental stewardship and Manitoba's biodiversity of

natural resources Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest and cultural value. O ...

. The department is overseen by the Minister of Environment and Climate, who is currently Tracy Schmidt, . The department previously also held the responsibility for identifying, establishing, and managing Manitoba's system of

provincial parks file:Ischigualasto national park.jpg, Ischigualasto Provincial Park A provincial park (or territorial park) is a park administered by one of the provinces of a country, as opposed to a national park. They are similar to state parks in other countr ...

ecological reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...

s, and protected areas, but this has since been moved to the Department of Natural Resources and Northern Development.

Department overview

Responsibilities of the Department include ensuring the

sustainability Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...

of natural resources for Manitobans, upholding and ensuring the continuance of

Treaty A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between actors in international law. It is usually made by and between sovereign states, but can include international organizations An international organization or international o ...

and Indigenous rights, and providing for basic resource needs for subsistence users. The Department also protects people, property, and resource values from

wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...

s as well as the adverse effects of other natural and human-caused events. In terms of economic development and well-being, the Department of Conservation and Climate manages commercial use of natural resources by providing land-, water-, and resource-based opportunities and by supporting community initiatives through

grant funding A grant is a fund given by an end entity grant – often a public body, charitable foundation, or a specialised grant-making institution – to an individual or another entity (usually, a non-profit organisation, sometimes a business or a loc ...

programs.

Divisions and responsibilities

* Climate, Environment, and Biodiversity: works on reducing and managing the impact that people have on the environment, as well as conserving Manitoba's rich diversity of plants and animals. This division's initiative's priorities, programs, legislation, and actions, focus on the following areas: ** Air quality management ** Climate change ** Pollution prevention ** Pesticide use ** Management of

protected areas Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

** Protection of at risk species ** Biodiversity conservation ** Management of invasive species ** Ecological reserve programs ** Storage and handling of hazardous products like petroleum * Finance and Crown Lands: provides executive management of programs and management services, including financial, information services, administrative support, planning, and policy development; management of

Crown land Crown land (sometimes spelled crownland), also known as royal domain, is a territorial area belonging to the monarch, who personifies the Crown. It is the equivalent of an entailed estate and passes with the monarchy, being inseparable from it. ...

and related programs; facilitation of the engagement of Indigenous people in the department's activities; and stewardship of Manitoba's shared

geospatial technology Geoinformatics is the science and the technology which develops and uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geography, cartography, geosciences and related branches of science and engineering, such as Land Surveying. O ...

and information assets. * Environmental Stewardship: ensures the development, implementation, and coordination of government-wide

climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...

programs; ensures the development and coordination of strategic policy initiatives for the Department; ensures the management and implementation of the environmental policy, program, and enforcement functions for the Department; ensures that environmental impacts of developments are evaluated; and ensures the delivery of emergency-response programming related to

environmental emergencies An environmental emergency is defined as a "sudden-onset disaster or accident resulting from natural, technological or human-induced factors, or a combination of these, that causes or threatens to cause severe environmental damage as well as loss ...

. * Water Stewardship & Biodiversity: develops, administers, and implements policies, programs, legislation and regulations in order to: ** ensure that the Crown-owned forest land is managed to provide sustainable resource base and quality seedings for existing and future harvest operations and an adequate forest cover for conservation and land resources ** ensure that wildlife and its habitat are protected and managed sustainably ** protect, maintain and, where necessary, rehabilitate the quality of Manitoba's ecosystems habitat ** manage resources in such a way that: ensures that viable population stocks are maintained and that allocation for resource harvesting is fair; resolves or minimizes conflict between competing uses; and optimizes the long-term economic and social benefits to Manitobans ** ensure the continued safety of drinking water provided to Manitobans ** implement regulatory programs to control and manage land drainage and water retention projects while protecting

wetlands A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...

and

downstream Downstream may refer to: * Downstream (bioprocess) * Downstream (manufacturing) * Downstream (networking) * Downstream (software development) * Downstream (petroleum industry) * Upstream and downstream (DNA), determining relative positions on DNA ...

properties; ** sustainably allocate the use of water for such purposes as municipal

drinking water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, a ...

, industrial purposes,

irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow Crop, crops, Landscape plant, landscape plants, and Lawn, lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,00 ...

, etc., and for the generation of

hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other Renewabl ...

** take on scientific studies, short and long-term monitoring programs, and various data-collection activities that ensure the sound, sustainable, and scientifically-based management of Manitoba's water, wildlife, fisheries, and forestry resources ** develop and implement a system for integrated

watershed management Watershed management is the study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at the sustainable distribution of its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans, programs and projects to sustain and enhance watershed fun ...

planning on watershed basis in Manitoba *Waste Management: ensures that waste is "handled in a responsible manner" that preserves Manitoba's environment and protects its natural resources.

History

In 1928, the Department of Mines and Natural Resources was established by passage of ''The Mines and Natural Resources Act''. It was created to oversee the extraction of Manitoba's

mineral resources Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest and cultural value. O ...

, but its mandate rapidly extended to include the protection, conservation, administration, and development of the province's mineral resources, forests, fisheries, wildlife, water resources, recreational services, and tourism opportunities. The Department's creation, like the appointment of a Mines Commissioner in 1927, was in preparation for the official transfer of jurisdiction over resources from the federal Department of the Interior. This transfer took place in 1930 with passage of the ''Manitoba Natural Resources Act''. The Department of Mines, Resources and Environmental Management, created in 1971, was mandated to maximize the economic, social, scientific, and cultural growth of Manitoba through administering, managing, protecting, and husbanding the natural resources and environment of Manitoba. A re-organized Department of Mines, Resources and Environmental Management was created in 1976 and was responsible for managing Manitoba's non-renewable water and mineral resources, as well as for managing pollution and the impact of non-renewable resource use to ensure clean air, soil, and water. The Department of Renewable Resources and Transportation Services was created in 1976 when the functions of the former Department of Mines, Resources and Environmental Management were divided between two new departments in 1975. This Department was responsible for research, policy development, planning, and management of renewable resources such as forests, fisheries, and wildlife; for programs carried out by field staff in these three resource areas, for lands, surveys and mapping; and for the operation of the provincial government's Air Division. The Department of Mines, Natural Resources and Environment was created in 1978, taking on all the functions of the former Department of Mines, Resources and Environmental Management, the renewable resource functions of the former Department of Renewable Resources and Transportation Services, and the Parks Branch (renamed the Parks and Natural Areas Branch in 1992) of the former Department of Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. The new Department of Natural Resources was created in 1979 and assumed all functions of the former Department of Mines, Natural Resources and Environment, except those concerned with minerals, which were transferred to the Department of Energy and Mines, and those concerned with environmental management, which were transferred to the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Environment. The Department of Conservation (french: Ministère du Conservation et Climat, label=) was created in 1999, by a merging of the

Ministry of Environment An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment ...

and Department of Natural Resources, as well as the functions associated with petroleum and energy from the former Department of Energy and Mines. In 2001, the Department's functions related to petroleum and natural gas were transferred to the Department of Industry, Trade and Mines. In 2002 the Climate Change Branch of the Department of Conservation was transferred to the new Department of Energy, Science and Technology. In 2004, the functions of the Water and Fisheries Branches were transferred to the Department of Water Stewardship. On 13 January 2012, the Department of Conservation and Water Stewardship () was created with the merging of the Department of Conservation with the Department of Water Stewardship. In 2016, Conservation and Water Stewardship became the Department of Sustainable Development.

References

{{reflist Manitoba government departments and agencies Environmental organizations based in Manitoba Ministries established in 1999 Forestry agencies of country subdivisions Environmental agencies of country subdivisions Environmental agencies in Canada Forestry agencies in Canada 1999 establishments in Manitoba

Department overview

Divisions and responsibilities

History

See also

References