The provincial government says a recent change to land-use categories in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, and Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, will ensure the protection and sustainability of over 6,000 hectares of land.

Conservation Minister Sarah Guillemard says the move will enhance protection for rare and at-risk species and habitats in our provincial parks.

In Duck Mountain Provincial Park, 951 hectares have changed from resource management to back-country land-use category, which is meant to ensure the protection of rare plant species in the park.

The conservation minister also says that adding these lands to Manitoba’s network of protected and conserved areas has increased the area of the province set aside for biodiversity conservation to 11.1%.