Our History
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The Story of Nature United
Our Roots
More than a century ago, leaders gathered, debated and laid the groundwork for what would become our global affiliate, The Nature Conservancy.
The Ecological Society of America is formed. This is the beginning of The Nature Conservancy, which now operates in over 80 countries around the world—including in Canada, where it works with its affiliate Nature United.
The Ecologists Union changes its name to The Nature Conservancy, and the organization is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the District of Columbia in 1951.
The first Canadian members joined The Nature Conservancy.
The Nature Conservancy builds Canadian partnerships to protect key conservation lands in Canada. Over the years, TNC helped establish Conservation Data Centres, created the Canada/U.S. Conservation Partnership, and supported the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in cross-border conservation.
Growing Legacy
The Nature Conservancy was invited by local partners to join an effort to conserve the Great Bear Rainforest—which marked the beginning of our legacy in Canada.
TNC’s collaboration with local partners resulted in the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement, conserving 19M acres, including 5M acres off-limits to logging and the balance managed under stringent harvest standards.
TNC was invited by local partners to work in the Northwest Territories. Nature United supports the Łutsël K’e Dene First Nation ’s vision for Thaidene Nëné, their traditional homeland.
Our relationship with the Ahousaht First Nation began when Shawn Atleo asked TNC to explore a partnership. The agreement resulted in a loan to a First Nation owned timber company.
Standing United
Building on more than a decade of conservation in Canada, Nature United is taking bolder steps than ever before to create a healthy Canada where people and nature thrive.
Work in the boreal began with TNC’s partnership with Tolko Industries. In collaboration with three Canadian environmental groups Nature United engaged on technical research.
TNC Canada became a Canadian registered charity while maintaining its affiliation with The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest conservation organization. We hired our first Executive Director in Canada, opened our Toronto headquarters and expanded our team across the country.
TNC Canada changed our name to Nature United. We believe that our future depends on uniting nature and people, integrating conservation and sustainable economic development, and working in partnership—together with governments, communities, industries and other organizations—to build solutions based on our shared values, rather than blocked by our differences.