Flores Island Clayoquot Sound TJ Watt

Protected Areas

Canada is home to some of the largest and most intact wilderness in the world, yet only a very small proportion of those landscapes and watersheds are legally protected areas. The federal government has pledged to protect 30 per cent of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030, a so-called 30 by 30 commitment that has gained traction globally in recent years.

What land is protected and what isn’t has significant implications for natural resource industries, species at risk, the protection of water and the recognition of Indigenous Rights and Title.

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Can these far northern First Nations protect the world’s Breathing Lands?

From the air, what stands out is the water. Rivers and streams too numerous to count, winding through a vast expanse of peatlands and forests,...

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