Nature Network

The Canadian Nature Network:
Making Shared Conservation Goals a Reality

In 2002, the naturalist community came together to establish the Canadian Nature Network (CNN), a national network of people who care about nature, and who share a common vision:

The Nature Network is an inclusive alliance of all who care for, have a passion for and celebrate nature. We protect, conserve, restore and appreciate the diversity of nature. The Network empowers and connects people in all eco-regions of Canada. It is well-organized, science and knowledge-based, influential, and has the resources to achieve its goals.

The CNN works at the national, provincial and local level to effect positive change in areas of nature conservation, habitat restoration, species at risk, conservation monitoring, environmental education, invasive species and ecological integrity. It is a powerful, accessible and visible network that involves over 100,000 nature lovers from coast to coast.

Those within the CNN – passionate, informed, motivated nature lovers – have long recognized that a common voice, greater partnership between organizations, greater communication and coordination within the network – in short, a fully engaged and effective network – would enable Canada’s naturalist community to work more and better together to achieve their common vision.

Back to top

Toward a More Effective Network

In 2006, the Government of Canada signed an agreement with Nature Canada to fund a participatory examination of ways to more effectively engage the hundreds of naturalist clubs across the country. Read the news release.

Passionate, informed, nature lovers have long recognized that a fully engaged network of nature groups would enable Canada’s naturalist community to work better together to achieve their common vision.

Now, we’re one step closer to ensuring the collective voice of Canada’s naturalist community will be heard.

Back to top

What would a more effective Canadian Nature Network mean?

Canada’s network of naturalist clubs would, through its collective strength, be able to increase and improve Canadians’ awareness and understanding of environmental and nature conservation issues.

It would mean that the collective voice of those who defend nature – Canada’s naturalist community – would be heard. Through improved coordination, naturalists could provide greater and more strategic influence on the federal natural capital policy agenda, by providing Environment Canada and Parks Canada with policy advice and informed perspective on natural capital issues.

It would mean naturalist clubs in every region of Canada could engage Canadians through on-the-ground conservation action. This could include more citizen scientists collecting data on indicators of climate change; more monitoring of our national parks, important bird areas and national wildlife areas; more habitat protection and restoration activities; and greater cooperation with community-based groups working to protect migratory species throughout the hemisphere.

It would mean more Canadians would learn about the value of natural capital. An effective and fully engaged Canadian Nature Network would work with environmental education programs in natural areas, junior naturalist clubs, schools and outdoor centres around this country that provide invaluable opportunities for people to connect to nature.

Back to top