Gatineau – Conserving and restoring nature is vital to protecting biodiversity and species at risk. Nature protection is also vital to address climate change and to maintain a strong, sustainable economy. Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, depend on nature for food, clean water, breathable air, and a livable climate. As such, Canada is committed to working with provincial, territorial, Indigenous, and municipal governments, as well as other partners to advance conservation goals—particularly its commitment to protect 25 percent of the land, freshwater, and oceans by 2025, working toward 30 percent by 2030.
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, along with Dana Skoropad, Saskatchewan Minister of Environment, and Andrea Lafond, Chief Executive Officer of the Meewasin Valley Authority, announced the recognition of nine Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures and seven Protected Areas. These areas have been added to Canada’s Protected and Conserved Areas Database.
These Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures and Protected Areas represent more than 640 hectares within the 6,700 hectare Meewasin jurisdiction, an ecological corridor of conserved land through the Saskatoon region. Together, these areas support biodiversity conservation in an urban region.
Saskatchewan’s goal to conserve 12 percent of land and water in the province supports Canada’s conservation goals. By working together, the governments of Canada, Saskatchewan, and Meewasin are advancing conservation, tackling climate change and working to halt biodiversity loss.
Canada’s push to protect more nature comes as it prepares to welcome the world to the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal, Quebec, from December 7 to 19. This landmark conference is a chance for Canada to show its continued leadership and work with international partners and Indigenous peoples to take action to conserve nature and halt biological diversity loss around the world.
“Today’s announcement represents a significant step forward for the protection of nature in Saskatchewan. I would like to commend the Government of Saskatchewan for the leadership they’ve shown in reporting conservation and biodiversity benefits through Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures in the province. This is something we would like to see from all provinces and territories in Canada, as we prepare to host the major COP15 Biodiversity Conference next month and continue to champion more domestic and international conservation efforts.” – Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change