Our Approach
We use a proven “conservation financing” approach to fill key funding gaps that, if addressed, will make it possible to establish new protected areas for the most endangered ecosystems.
At the core of our approach is our work with land-embedded communities, who often hold the keys to unlocking protection for the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.
Who are land-embedded communities?
First Nations, woodlot owners, Métis communities, ranchers — all are examples of land-embedded communities. For generations, these communities have maintained close cultural, economic, and political links to the surrounding public, or “Crown”, lands (which are also often unceded Indigenous lands). Because of these longstanding connections, they play a pivotal role in deciding how land is used in their regions, including whether new protected areas can be established.
Over the decades, many land-embedded communities have become economically dependent on the resource industries more commonplace in their areas. This has made it financially inviable for them to protect nature near their homes—especially endangered ecosystems, which are often more biologically productive and thus more coveted for their resources.
Our goal:
We will work with and provide key support to land-embedded communities, helping them transition to more diversified, resilient economies that thrive with nature. This approach is known as “conservation financing”, which is the key to protecting at-risk ecosystems across Canada.
What is Conservation Financing?
Conservation financing is an umbrella term used to describe the practice of raising and managing funds to support parties, groups, and activities that steward and protect nature. This term has become increasingly important following international negotiations (COP27 and COP15) that highlighted the urgency to address the global funding shortage needed to mitigate the extinction and climate crisis.
Approaches vary from region to region and are often based on geographically specific environmental challenges and socio-political contexts. In Canada, protecting endangered ecosystems will largely involve ensuring that land-embedded communities are supported with conservation financing.
Our goal:
Our conservation financing approach will help land-embedded co-create new protected areas by providing capacity funding; interim support for jobs, stewardship initiatives, and community programs; and sustainable economic development in industries like eco and cultural tourism, recreation, clean energy, non-timber forest products like wild mushrooms and berries, sustainable seafood, carbon offsets, and more.
Partnerships
We foster meaningful cross-sector partnerships, working with conservation groups and qualified organizations to engage and collaborate with land-embedded communities in their regions. We also direct government funding sources to high-impact projects in order to advance community economic resilience and protected area plans.
Where necessary, we support land trusts, conservation groups, and governments to help purchase private lands from willing sellers for new protected areas.
Make a donation
Our donors make this work possible. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to ensure lasting prosperity for communities and endangered ecosystems.
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