Carney announces new national nature strategy

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new $3.8 billion nature strategy,  A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature, with a strong marine and watershed component on March 31.

“Canada’s new nature strategy will protect and restore critical habitats, ensure industrial strategies complement our conservation efforts, and mobilise new capital for nature,” a release from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

“The beauty of Canada’s nature – from lakes and forests to mountains and coastlines – is central to our history, our identity, and our way of life. As Canadians, we have the responsibility to protect the lands and waters we have inherited. With unprecedented conservation efforts, the power of modern technology, and the wisdom of Indigenous traditions, our new nature strategy will protect what matters most and build a stronger, more sustainable Canada,” Carney said.

The strategy will:

• Fund up to 14 new marine protected and conserved areas, and at least 10 new national parks and fresh water national marine conservation areas. In addition, we will fund up to 10 new national marine conservation areas and 15 national urban parks.

• Advance the Wiinipaakw Indigenous Protected Area and National Marine Conservation Area in Eastern James Bay, off Québec.

• Advance the Seal River Watershed National Park Reserve in Manitoba.

• Reinforce Indigenous-led conservation work by investing over $230 million to expand the Indigenous Guardians Program to establish a new Arctic Indigenous Guardians Program. This will enable better monitoring, land stewardship, and conservation leadership in Indigenous communities, while creating high-quality careers.

• Support the recovery of wood bison populations along the Alberta-Northwest Territories border through a $90 million investment into the Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site Action Plan.

• Invest in the Ghost Gear Fund to further remove harmful fishing gear from Canada’s oceans.

Under the auspices of Build Canada, the federal government will develop Canada’s first National Water Security Strategy to ensure healthy freshwater ecosystems and reliable access to clean, safe drinking wate, the release said.

It will also invest more than $410 million into the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative and invest $80 million into the Wild Atlantic Salmon Strategy, the release added.