Friday, October 16, 2026
The Government of Canada announced the protection of more than 81,400 hectares of taiga forests and peatlands south of Kapuskasing, Ontario. The federal government will invest over $13 million in this project through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program. This amount is part of a total investment of $64 million from the federal government, the Government of Ontario, businesses, foundations, and private donors. Led by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the project protects a significant boreal landscape that stores carbon, supports biodiversity, and provides habitat for wildlife.
The protected area includes carbon-rich boreal forests and peatlands that currently store more than 30 million tonnes of carbon, the equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 34 million passenger vehicles. The project also supports habitat conservation for a variety of species, including species at risk such as the red-headed woodpecker and the bobolink. Through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, the Government of Canada is supporting the conservation of ecologically significant lands while advancing Canada’s biodiversity objectives.
“Protecting these forests and peatlands strengthens Canada’s resilience to climate change, safeguards habitat for species at risk, and helps communities better withstand droughts, wildfires, and flooding. Projects like these show how partnership-driven conservation delivers lasting benefits for people and nature,” said Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature
This week, the Governments of Canada and Ontario will be co-hosting the Meeting of Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Conservation, Wildlife, and Biodiversity in Toronto with Minister Dabrusin and Secretary of State Provost. Discussions will focus on shared conservation priorities, such as strengthening collaboration on conservation and opportunities to mobilize public and private investment in nature.
Preparations are also underway for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17), which kicks off the week of October 19, 2026, in Yerevan, Armenia. COP17 will focus on a review of global progress toward implementation of the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and its 2030 targets. Canada will highlight its actions and investments in nature conservation, particularly through A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature, including Indigenous-led conservation, progress toward national 30×30 commitments, and the work of its Expert Taskforce on Natural Capital Accounting and Nature Financing, which aims to better recognize the value of nature and mobilize public and private investment in nature.
“Canadians’ longstanding commitment to nature is undeniable, and our government is steadfast in its goal of protecting 30 per cent of our lands and waters by 2030. Our commitment to projects such as those supported by the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and our continued collaboration with partnerships will help us reach our ambitious goals for nature.” said Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature).
Featured image: (Government of Canada)
