Stephen Hazell, Director of Conservation and General Counsel

Standing up for nature sometimes means going to court. Nature Canada is currently fighting legal battles to protect three highly endangered species at risk: Blanding’s Turtle, Greater Sage Grouse, and Whooping Crane.

On April 20, Prince Edward County Field Naturalists and Nature Canada achieved a big win for nature in a successful appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal. We fought to ensure the court upheld an administrative tribunal decision that the Ostrander wind project would cause irreversible harm to the endangered Blanding’s Turtle. And now, wind energy companies must consider how their projects will effect turtles, birds, bats and other species.

Nature Canada and Ecojustice are joining forces in Federal Court. We’re standing up for nature against the City of Medicine Hat and the LGL Oil Company who claim that an emergency order requiring them to protect the highly endangered Greater Sage Grouse is unconstitutional.

As a result of the deaths of at least 23 critically endangered Whooping Cranes from starvation in Texas, Nature Canada recently intervened in an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Our brief argued that Texas must ensure that the birds have enough water to survive, regardless of the inconvenience to the state’s industrial water users. Our goal is to protect the one remaining migratory flock of about 300 Whooping Cranes that travel between Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

Your support means these species at risk have their day in court. And while each case on its own may seem small, with your help we are ensuring nature’s voice is heard and creating legal precedents that mean more protections for species and their habitats. Thank you!