Indigenous peoples in Canada have been environmental stewards of their traditional land, ice, and water and are the original leaders in sustainable development and natural resource management. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to support Indigenous leadership in conservation.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced approximately $66 million in funding to support 42 Indigenous-led conservation projects across the country. These projects aim to conserve more land that will support Canada's area-based conservation targets.
The Indigenous-Led Area-Based Conservation initiative provides funding to Indigenous peoples to lead, or co-lead, projects to establish protected areas or recognize Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures, many of which may lead to the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.
Projects funded through this initiative include:
- The Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, and the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission, receiving a combined total of up to $10.2 million over three years to support the protection of ecologically and culturally significant land across Nova Scotia.
- The Council of the Abitibiwinni First Nation, receiving up to $1.4 million over three years to support a cross-border Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area south of James Bay. The project aims to conserve land in Quebec and Ontario to support woodland caribou within the range of the Detour Kesagami Caribou population.
- Meadow Lake Tribal Council, receiving nearly $1.5 million over three years to support efforts to establish protected and conserved areas in northwest Saskatchewanby 2026. Five Cree and four Dene First Nations are working together to protect and conserve biodiversity and culturally significant land and resources and develop community capacity.
To date, 94 Indigenous communities across the country have received a combined amount of $202 million in Indigenous-Led Area-Based Conservation funding, and its precursor Target 1 Challenge, to either establish new protected areas or Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures or undertake early planning and engagement work that could result in new conservation areas. Some of those projects are nearing completion and will contribute to meeting Canada's goal of conserving 30 percent of land and water in Canada by 2030.
Expanding Canada's network of protected and conserved areas helps address issues such as biodiversity loss and climate change, while also providing important benefits for Indigenous communities, the natural environment, and species at risk.
