This is BIG!
Accelerating the pace of conservation in Canada
At the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), we know the urgent global crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change demand urgent conservation solutions. The good news is, in just the last two years, you have helped double the pace of conservation, ensuring the conservation of an astounding 1 million additional hectares from coast to coast to coast. When combined with our previous conservation efforts, together we have ensured the future of more than 15 million hectares.
These lands and waters promote biodiversity, store carbon and provide habitat for close to one third of Canada’s species at risk.
These successes were made possible thanks to our community of passionate conservation champions who share our ambitious values and goals.
Energized by bold ideas, we have embraced partnerships to multiply our impact. We have acted with intention to deliver results. And we have empowered others by encouraging initiative and facilitating opportunity.
Unlocking large conservation results
NCC is Canada’s unifying force for nature. As a trusted partner in conservation, we deliver permanent and sizeable results. Since 1962, our collective actions have resulted in about 2 million hectares of direct conservation, and another 13 million where our actions have made it possible for others to do amazing work. That’s equivalent to almost twice the size of New Brunswick.
Deals that are making a difference
How did we do it? Through projects large and small, and through partnerships right across the country. In the past two years, these are some of the projects that made a difference, adding to our impact:
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1
Thaidene Nëné, NWT
Sometimes the smallest projects carry the biggest impact. In the midst of a vast area of cultural and ecological significance, NCC purchased a private holding of about one hectare, transferring it to Parks Canada. This removed an obstacle to creating Thaidene Nëné National Park reserve, influencing conservation over 14,000 square kilometres, in keeping with the aspirations and wishes of local Indigenous communities.
2
Qat'muk, BC
After 30 years of uncertainty about the future of these traditional lands, the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) will now be able to move forward with community consultation to ensure effective stewardship and conservation of the Central Purcell Mountains through the creation of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) .
NCC was honoured to work with the KNC to help them achieve their vision of fully protecting Qat'muk. NCC was invited to help deliver the complete and permanent extinguishment of all tenures and development rights associated with the Jumbo development, and to support KNC in their ongoing conservation planning for the establishment of an IPCA.
3
Buffalo Pound, SK
Conserving seven kilometres of shoreline around Buffalo Pound Lake, for the sake of threatened grasslands and species at risk, this natural area provides drinking water for 25 per cent of the province’s people.
4
Vidal Bay, ON
The project comprises more than 7,600 hectares of shoreline and forest, redefining landscape-scale conservation in central Ontario. The forests, wetlands and alvar habitats found here capture and store nearly 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, equivalent to taking nearly 5,000 cars off the road annually.
5
Krieg Property, QC
The Krieg property is a pastoral natural area full of life. Its mature forests are home to eastern wood-pewee, a small, threatened songbird. Several species of spring salamanders also live in the area’s streams. NCC hopes to connect the property to the Green Mountains Nature Reserve, a place of high biodiversity and a well-used outdoor recreation area in Quebec.
6
Chignecto Isthmus, NS
The Chignecto Isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting mainland Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and the rest of North America. Since 2010, NCC has conserved just over 2,200 hectares on both sides of the border, continuing to steward and expand upon our existing conservation efforts along this critical wildlife corridor.
7
The Grasses Nature Reserve, NL
The Grasses Nature Reserve is the most extensive example of natural grassland and the largest wetland centred along a river in Newfoundland and Labrador. The largest wetland of its type in the province, it provides habitat for several rare plant species and large-scale connectivity for a host of wildlife.
Your support of many more projects across the country over the last two years is helping provide habitat for close to 240 species at risk (about 1/3 of Canada’s terrestrial and freshwater species at risk).
Nature demands more
But despite these remarkable accomplishments, the current pace of conservation still isn't nearly enough if we want to address habitat conversion, biodiversity loss and the impacts of climate change. The scale and urgency of the challenge has increased. We know we must work at an unprecedented pace now to ensure the survival of the species and habitats that are our very life support systems.
As the world’s second-largest country, and with the longest coastline, a fifth of the world’s surface fresh water and some of the largest remaining intact forest and significant grasslands, Canada has a global responsibility to protect its lands and waters for the long term. In fact, our country has pledged to protect 25 per cent of our lands and waters by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030. But that goal cannot be accomplished by government alone.
Conservation organizations like NCC have a major role to play in meeting these international commitments. NCC is poised to help unlock more solutions to these crises. We know that if we don’t act with urgency across the landscape, the negative impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss will be exacerbated.
Accelerating our impact
NCC is ready to mobilize Canadians to do more.
We are accelerating conservation and will double our impact by 2030.
We will transform support for nature conservation.
We will do more to help unlock solutions by protecting Canada’s species at risk, supporting Indigenous-led conservation, caring for significant landscapes and growing our community.
When nature thrives, we all thrive
There has never been a more important time to invest in nature conservation.
For all we have achieved together, there is much more to do. NCC is building on our momentum.
By supporting NCC, you are turning intention into tangible action and investing in a sustainable future.
When nature thrives, we all thrive.
