Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, announced that the Government of Canada is partnering with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and other public and private partners to protect vital Rocky Mountain landscapes in southeastern British Columbia. Through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, Environment and Climate Change Canada is contributing $20 million to complete the Kootenay Forest Lands project, one of Canada's largest private land conservation projects to date. This complements a contribution of $7 million made through the Old Growth Nature Fund to an earlier phase of the project. With the support of the Ktunaxa First Nations, in whose territory the project is located, Kootenay Forest Lands will continue to deliver lasting benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience, and community value.
The Minister made the announcement in Vancouver alongside the Honourable Randene Neill, British Columbia's Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship; Catherine Grenier, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nature Conservancy of Canada; and Kathryn Teneese, Chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council. The Kootenay Forest Lands will help maintain one of North America's most important wildlife corridors, supporting at-risk species such as the grizzly bear, the badger, the whitebark pine, the bull trout, and the bighorn sheep. The area also contains rare high-elevation grasslands, old-growth forests, and streams that feed the Elk River-an essential waterway for ecosystems and communities. Transitioning these lands from industrial forestry to conservation-focused management will enhance carbon storage, reduce emissions, and build resilience to climate-related risks such as wildfire and flooding.
This project supports Canada's commitment to conserve 30% of land and water by 2030 and contributes to global efforts to halt biodiversity loss and fight climate change.
