From March 7 to 10, Nature Canada joined forces with nature groups across the country for Nature on the Hill in Ottawa. This annual event was a unique and crucial opportunity to halt and reverse Canadian species extinction and biodiversity loss. 

With your help, we sent over 10,000 letters to Parliament demanding an Action Plan that:

• Protects 30 percent of land and water by 2030
• Establishes more Marine Protected Areas
• Supports Indigenous-led conservation
• Fights climate change 

The event wrapped up with roundtable discussions with The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Coast Guard. We were thrilled to hear them commit to protecting nature and halting biodiversity loss.

Nature on the Hill: A (Nature) Group Effort

The Nature Network is our partnership of Canadian naturalist organizations in every province across Canada. By engaging Canadians through monitoring, research and advocacy activities, we are building a nature ethic in communities and cities across the country.

Throughout the week, 64 nature groups representing a wide range of interests—from watershed alliances to birders to friends of local parks—participated in 40 meetings with MPs. Over 500 supporters and nature lovers from across the country showed up to champion nature!

Of the 64 nature groups that showed up to raise their voices for nature, we got the inside scoop on what some of them were advocating for at the event. In our Nature Network Showcase, we featured three nature groups that were making strides at Nature on the Hill. You can read their blogs below!

Grand River Environmental Network – Advocating for the Greenbelt at Nature on the Hill 

Alberta Wilderness Association – Advocating for habitat protection at Nature on the Hill 

Island Nature Trust – Advocating for land protection at Nature on the Hill 

These organizations, along with so many others, met with members of parliament to speak up for Canada’s goal to protect 30 percent of land and water by 2030 and fight climate change, as well as support Indigenous-led conservation and create more Marine Protected Areas in the country. A special thanks to Hon. Rosa Galvez who is our Honorary Chair of Women for Nature for inviting participants to be guests at the Senate to celebrate International Women’s Day.  She is a wonderful champion for nature and we are thankful to her.

Thank you to our partners and supporters

Having so many nature groups show up has had a significant impact at the parliamentary level. We came together to prove that Canadians care about nature, and that we demand an action plan to save species from the brink of collapse. We are so grateful to the volunteers, nature groups, MPs and Ministers who participated in this year’s event as well as to our members who support these important efforts to defend wildlife and restore nature each and every day.

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