When we think of creating protected areas, we often think of preserving the great wilderness spaces where (to borrow Samuel Goldwyn’s line) the hand of man has never set foot. Mountain ranges, vast forests, endless prairie grassland… that’s what we need to protect.

But the reality is that most Canadians live in urban or “peri-urban” areas, and these inhabitants need nature as much as anybody. Municipalities (especially in southern Canada) are actually home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the country.

Yet urban and peri-urban conservation spaces are poorly represented in Canada’s inventory of protected areas. And few municipalities are actively trying to contribute to Canada’s 30×30 target (to protect 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030).

That’s why Nature Canada has joined forces with the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts (ACLT), BC Nature, Ontario Nature, and Wildlands League in a campaign to encourage municipalities to create protected areas within their boundaries and contribute to the 30×30 target. Our Municipal Protected Areas Coalition will support at least eight pilot municipalities across Canada who want to recognize or increase their protected areas. As part of that effort, we will develop a toolkit and best practices to help these pilot municipalities (and future ones) achieve their goals.

The more nature a city has, the easier it breathes.

Municipalities in the Vanguard

Municipalities are well placed to help further the 30×30 target. For one thing, they are at the front lines of experiencing the harmful effects of biodiversity loss, and understand the vital need for urban nature. Moreover, as local governments,  they are in a position to practice integrated planning (wherein transport, buildings, land use and waste services function as parts of a system).  As the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) notes, municipalities often set sustainability goals that are more ambitious than those of national governments.  In sum, municipalities will be key players in helping bring the national goal of 30×30 down to a local scale, and connecting it to  nearby spaces that citizens know and love.

The role of municipalities got a big boost at COP15, the U.N. biodiversity conference held in December 2022 in Montreal.  In the lead-up to the conference, the hosting city issued the Montreal Pledge, which invited cities from all over the world to make a commitment to biodiversity. The pledge commits cities to 15 actions such as integrating biodiversity into territorial and regulatory planning, increasing the amount of green and blue spaces and improving equitable access to them.

Nature Canada already has a strong working relationship with municipalities through our national campaigns such as Bird Friendly Cities, Naturehood and Nature-Based Climate Solutions. We’ve seen how many cities and towns, once they’re given the right tools, are highly motivated to take action on protecting nature. Our coalition can help your municipality be recognized as a leader in conversation and a contributor to the national movement of 30×30.

There are two main kinds of areas that could be included in the 30×30 inventory of protected areas:

Protected areas proper: spaces that are dedicated and managed to achieve long-term conservation of nature.

Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM): Spaces governed and managed in ways that protect biodiversity even if their primary purpose is not nature conservation.

Here are some actions that municipalities can take:

• Endorse the Montreal Pledge.
• Make a commitment to supporting the 30×30 conservation target.
• Request a member of our Municipal Protected Areas Coalition  to provide a delegation to your council.
• Establish a municipal environmental advisory committee.
• Ask for support from one of the organizations in our coalition to achieve your 30×30 target.
• Engage with local First Nations and other important stakeholders to achieve ambitious, shared conservation goals.
• Assess lands for eligibility as Protected Areas or Other Effective Conservation Areas.
• Develop strong conservation mechanisms to protect your natural spaces.
• Protect new lands, often in partnership with organizations in the coalition’s network.
• Work with the coalition’s network to build up local biodiversity conservation data and understanding.

Protected areas  within municipalities may not necessarily take in huge swaths of wilderness, as national parks do, but small parcels can add up quickly. What’s important now is to start municipalities along the path towards 30×30.  In the words of Scott Mullenix, Director of Communications at Nature Canada, “baby steps can make big footprints.” It’s time to ensure that the hard work of  municipalities in protecting nature can contribute to a national effort.

Please see our page on Municipal Protected Areas for more information, and please contact us if you know of a local area that could be protected.