December 7, 2022 Montreal – Today Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada would provide $800 million to support four major Indigenous-led marine and terrestrial conservation initiatives. 

“This is exactly the kind of leadership we need from Canada at this crucial moment as COP15 gets underway,” said Graham Saul, Executive Director of Nature Canada. “Indigenous knowledge and leadership offers some of the most hopeful momentum for achieving Canada’s ambitious goals to protect 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030 and halt and reverse nature loss.”

Indigenous communities and governments have been driving these proposals for stewardship and protection of their territories in regions spanning the Great Bear Sea along BC’s Northern Coast, the Qikiqtani  Region in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the coastline of the western Hudson Bay and south western James Bay as well as the Hudson Bay Lowlands. “First Nation, Metis and Inuit governments are to be congratulated in leading the way to a nature-positive future,” said Gauri Sreenivasan, Policy and Campaigns Director.  

NatureCOP negotiations kick off today. The meetings in Montreal are a once in a decade opportunity for the world to agree on a plan to stop nature loss once and for all.

Yesterday at the opening ceremonies for the COP, Prime Minister Trudeau sent a strong message to the international community emphasizing the need to work together to reach an agreement for an ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that commits member governments to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, protect 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030 and respect and support Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous-led conservation.   

Nature Canada was pleased to see Canada also offer a new contribution of $350 million in international biodiversity funding to support conservation efforts by developing countries in recognition of the differential capacity of wealthy and poorer countries to address biodiversity loss.

More funding and action are needed. Nature Canada will be watching how the talks progress and is urging Canada to show continued leadership to land a comprehensive new global deal with measurable targets, as well as clear support for Indigenous rights and knowledge, ocean health, and nature’s key role in fighting climate change. We are also urging Canada to commit to developing a comprehensive national action plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss at home.

“NatureCOP is off to a great start and we remain hopeful for a positive outcome over the next two weeks,” added Saul. “We commend the Prime Minister for showing leadership for nature at home and now urge Canada to work to ensure a strong new Global Biodiversity Framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.”