The Manitoba Conservation Districts Association (MCDA) has been meeting with the provincial government this spring to discuss a number of changes that are upcoming.

One of the items on the agenda was the province's announcement in the 2018-19 Budget to establish a $102-million provincial conservation trust fund, which would be paid for with carbon-tax revenue.

MCDA Chair Ray Frey is excited about the prospect.

"The biggest change is that this trust fund is going to generate about $5 million annually...so that's really new money and it'll be there every year," he said. "It's pretty difficult for a government to make those kind of commitments down the road."

Frey says the biggest benefit is that money earned from the trust fund will not be part of the province's budget, which means there will be more leeway on how long they can hold onto the funds before spending.

He noted the Conservation Districts Act is also in the process of being amended, which would see conservation districts align their boundaries with watersheds in the province.