Working Together for Thriving Communities and Ecosystems
With a land base of nearly 2.5 billion acres replete with critical ecosystems and biodiversity, Canada can lead the world in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises, while ensuring nature is the foundation of human well-being. From forest to sea, we work to create lasting conservation solutions that support thriving communities and ecosystems.
- Switch to:
- Planning
- Management
- Financing
Community-led land- and marine-use plans guide decisions about how resources are managed and used. As power imbalances begin to shift at local, regional and national levels, First Nations are reestablishing governance priorities, revitalizing Indigenous laws and setting visions for the future.
We work with Indigenous partners to create land- and marine-use plans that articulate the specific visions Indigenous Nations have for the people, wildlife and ecosystems on their territories. Our goal is to ensure their perspectives are actively integrated into regional resource decision making.
Indigenous-led resource planning is key to achieving lasting results.
When Indigenous communities have the capacity and resources they need to manage the lands and waters in their territories, conservation results are effective and long-lasting. At the invitation of partners, we provide facilitation, training, funding and other tools to help enable center Indigenous values in natural resource use planning.
For example, we support community-led land-use visioning in places like Clayoquot Sound, where we work in partnership with the Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations. We also support Indigenous-led processes like Healthy Country Planning in communities across Canada.
Ultimately, conservation planning is about ensuring Indigenous perspectives are actively integrated into actions and decisions that impact the well-being of communities and livelihoods.
Healthy land and seascapes hinge on strong governance systems. Nature United supports ecoystem-based managed approaches that balance ecological, social and economic benefits.
We do this by investing in resource management departments, Indigenous Guardians, and youth-on-the-land programs to build monitoring and management capacity. We also convene voices from industry and government to develop solutions that contribute to triple-bottom-line—social, economic and environmental—outcomes.
Ecosystem Based Management Projects
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Great Bear Rainforest Agreement
This Indigenous-led effort resulted in the protection of 7.4M acres with co-management regimes that increased First Nation management authority. An additional 10.8M acres managed by some of the world's most stringent forestry rules and regulations. Learn More
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Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP)
Established in 2015, MaPP is a unique partnership between 17 Indigenous First Nations governments and the British Columbia government that provides a "blueprint" for ocean use and sustainable economic development. Learn More
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Climate Ready Fisheries
Nature United is working to advance climate-ready policies that consider climate dynamics and environmental uncertainty in decisions about harvest levels and fisheries management. Learn More
To ensure enduring results, Indigenous-led conservation must be supported by long-term, sustainable funding solutions that advance the authority of Indigenous Peoples to manage the lands and waters within their territories.
Conservation finance is a transformative tool for Indigenous Nations and local communities as they work to solve some of the world’s greatest environmental challenges. It is critical that new financing tools (e.g .carbon offsets, stewardship endowments, eco-tourism fees) that are meant to support Indigenous communities’ land management be developed and implemented in such a way that is driven by their needs within their governance structure.
A successful strategy will result in more Indigenous-led conservation with improved management outcomes through programs like Indigenous Guardians—which will help Canada achieve its ambitious climate and biodiversity targets.
Conservation Financing Projects
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Clayoquot Sound
In Clayoquot Sound, we're supporting First Nations to develop land-use plans that ensure the ecologic, economic, and social health of their lands and people.
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Thaidene Nëné Trust
In partnership with the Łutsël K’é’ Dene First Nation, Nature United helped raise initial funds for a $30M trust to support Łutsël K’é's management of Thaidene Nëné, including trainings, planning, research, monitoring and economic development.
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Indigenous-led Carbon Markets
Through our on-the-ground work with partners in coastal British Columbia, we're aiming to increase access to First Nations communities in an Indigenous-led carbon market.
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Boreal Region
We support the leadership of Indigenous Nations in Manitoba, working to strengthen their decision-making authority around lands and waters, and investing in sustainable resource management initiatives like Indigenous Guardians.
Our Priorities
United as Nature and People
Our vision is for a sustainable Canada where nature is the foundation of human well-being, prosperity and opportunity for future generations.
