Post-Event Update

That’s a wrap! Thank you to all who participated. Check out our Dispatches From The Hill updates to watch a video by Gauri Sreenivasan, Director of Policy and Campaigns, highlighting the past week and the work still left ahead. Couldn’t attend? Watch the whole meeting below:

Don’t forget that you can still take part in ensuring our elected officials understand that nature is integral to our economic recovery. Send them a letter today:

Nature has been a source of comfort for many Canadians during unprecedented and stressful times. In fact, in a recent poll, 94 percent of respondents said spending time in nature has helped to relieve the stress and anxiety brought on by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic¹.

Throughout the last year, the benefits of spending time in nature have become clearer than ever. This has spurred many individuals, governments, and thought leaders to recognize the need to protect nature going forward as part of a green and just recovery from the pandemic. 

Cross-Canada nature movement 

In July, 230 nature organizations from across the country penned a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau urging him to invest in nature to build back better. 

Since the summer, over 21,000 letters have been sent by everyday folks to urge their Members of Parliament and the Minister of Finance to invest in nature and Indigenous-led conservation efforts.

Historic & ambitious targets that need investment 

The cross-Canada nature  movement comes at a critical time, Species are declining and habitats are degradeding faster than we can recover them. Canadian species declined by 59 percent² between 1970 and 2016 and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. 

In July, Canada joined the Global Ocean Alliance and committed to protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030, along with other world conservation leaders. In September, Prime Minister Trudeau joined the “High Ambition Coalition” and committed to also protect 30% of lands and inland waters by 2030 in compliment to the ocean targets. 

In order to achieve these important commitments investing to create new protected areas and support Indigenous-led conservation efforts will be critical. Nature advocates are looking to Budget 2021 as the key moment where a minimum $5 billion investment over five years is needed.

You can be part of the movement 

To ensure that 2021 is a groundbreaking year for nature, advocates from across Canada are meeting with Members of Parliament virtually, from February 17th to 19th. You can join our efforts and be part of the movement in two ways: attending our Town Hall, and sending a letter to your Member of Parliament. 

On Friday, February 19th, Nature Canada is presenting a special digital event where we’ll hear directly from the federal Ministers responsible for protecting nature in Canada. The Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, and The Hon. Bernadette Jordan, Ministers of Environment and Climate Change, and Fisheries and Oceans, will be live for the Nature on the Hill – Town Hall. 

By registering for this event and taking part in the Q&A with the Ministers, you can help us encourage decision-makers to make protecting nature and supporting Indigenous-led conservation a priority investment for Budget 2021. 

You can also send your own letter to decision-makers. Better yet, do both! Together, we can make 2021 a ground-breaking year for nature.

¹International, Radio Canada. 2021. “Canadians Say Nature Provides Relief in Pandemic.”
²World Wildlife Fund, “Living Planet Report Canada 2020”