GNF was founded in spring in 1998 to foster the protection of nature and environment as well as animals.

Despite relatively low populations in the Lake Winnipeg watershed (about 7.0 inhabitants per sq. km compared to nearly 230 inhabitants per sq. km in Germany) nutrients in industrial and agricultural run-off plus sewage discharges threaten Lake Winnipeg's future by stimulating large and frequent blue-green algae. These imbalance the lake's food chain and can be toxic to humans.

Udo Gattenjohner, of the Global Nature Fund, said while Lake Winnipeg is one of the largest lakes in the world, it's "dramatic environmental problems" are less well known. Gattenjohner said "recent changes in Canadian polities seem to be eroding the protection, particularly of vulnerable water ecosystems – and it is disappointing because this does not really fit with our image of Canada."

View February 5, 2013 Global Post article
View February 4, 2013 CBC News article
View Living Lakes Canada article
View Global Nature Fund Threatened Lake of the Year 2013: Lake Winnipeg in Canada page
Visit Global Nature Fund website