Biodiversity and Habitat Conservation

The Federal Government is committed to conserving 30 percent of lands, freshwater, and 30 percent of oceans by 2030, aligning with global conservation efforts. The BC Government also announced its support of the BC Nature Agreement.

To advance this commitment, on June 6, 2022, the Government of Canada announced $11.3 million from its Enhanced Nature Legacy fund for Canada’s 19 UNESCO Biosphere Regions. On September 1, Minister Guilbeault announced that we, the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society (HSBRIS), would receive four years of funding (over $900,000) to strengthen capacity for biodiversity conservation. 

We leverage this federal funding with matched funds for collaborative projects focusing on biodiversity protection. As of March 2025, citizen scientists had documented some 5,600 species in the Átl’ka7tsem / Howe Sound region through the iNaturalist Project. Unfortunately, at least 175 species in this region are considered at risk or endangered. This funding will also help support work to identify Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECM). OECMs are locations that positively contribute to conservation outcomes, even though this outcome is not their main management objective. Refer to these common Questions and Answers, and the Benefits of OECMS and their recognition.

Underpinning the work to regain a natural balance is a commitment to the two-eyed way of seeing – embracing both Indigenous traditional knowledge and ways of viewing the world and Western science. Reconciling with the natural world is an important step towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, who have stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial.

Current and completed projects funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada in collaboration with partner organizations are listed below.