Highways to Habitats: How Infrastructure and Conservation Connect

For the past 20 years, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) has been a leader in offsetting the loss of habitat, primarily wetlands, in southwest Manitoba.

This work began in 2004 when the province committed to provide compensation for 133 acres (54 hectares) of wetlands that were impacted by the twinning of Trans-Canada Highway from Virden to the Saskatchewan border. This work was done for the benefit of Manitobans, including increasing the safety of highway travel and enhancing economic connections outside of our province. However, with human benefits comes environmental loss, for which $304,000 was invested in wetland conservation delivered through Manitoba Habitat Conservancy (MHC).

Since then, MHC’s partnership with MTI has grown, with more than $1 million directed toward conservation actions to offset necessary highway developments and upgrades. These funds have permanently conserved more than twice the area of habitat originally lost.

MTI’s leadership helped set the stage for broader change. Building on the principle of avoiding habitat loss wherever possible, and offsetting losses when it cannot be avoided, the province amended legislation in 2018 to enshrine wetland compensation into law.

At MHC we believe that we can always find solutions where there is space for both people and nature. This 20-year partnership with MTI is a living example of finding space for both.