Conservation Successes in Canada

As the global conservation organization, WWF works to conserve species at risk, protect threatened habitats and address global threats. Using the best available scientific knowledge, we work to preserve the diversity and abundance of life in Canada and around the world. We find long-term solutions that benefit both people and nature.

In Canada, WWF has been working to protect nature for almost 40 years. Some of our more recent successes include:

Canada's seventh Marine Protected Area - Bowie Seamount
After many years working with partners on conservation of Bowie Seamount as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), WWF-Canada is celebrating the official designation of this MPA on April 17. This is an example of how collaboration between governments, First Nations, communities, resource users and environmental organizations can lead to significant conservation gains.

A network of MPAs on the Pacific Coast is a vital part of an integrated approach to caring for our oceans and building a sustainable future for our marine resources, and the communities that depend on them. Seamounts are rich, marine treasures that are particularly vulnerable to over exploitation. Yet, seamounts are under represented in global sets of MPAs as most are outside territorial waters. Bowie Seamount, located 180 kms west of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) in the northeast Pacific, is one of the few seamounts in the world that is completely within a country's jurisdiction, giving Canada a unique opportunity to protect it.

Largest Land Withdrawal for Protection Ever in Canada Over 10 million hectares of pristine wilderness in the Mackenzie River Basin have been protected from industrial development. This withdrawal of land and water from industrial activity, announced by the Government of Canada, was made at the request of local First Nations. This interim protection, for a period of four to five years, will allow local people to plan areas for permanent protection around Great Slave Lake and along a northern stretch of the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Read more

Lake Superior Protected A historic agreement has been signed by the Governments of Canada and Ontario to establish the largest freshwater reserve in the world, on the largest lake in the world – Lake Superior. This will be Canada’s first National Marine Conservation Area, protecting 1 million hectares of pristine islands, rugged coast, and crystal-clear water. This protection is excellent news for the species that inhabit this area, such as peregrine falcons, loons, woodland caribou, trout and pickerel. Read more

Nahanni National Park, Northwest Territories WWF-Canada has worked closely with Aboriginal communities, and other conservation organizations, to help secure the expansion of Nahanni National Park, NWT – one of the country's most rugged, beautiful and remote national parks. The federal government has announced that it will add 5,400 square kilometres of land to the Park - a world heritage site - barring it from further development. This expanded park is part of a series of areas that First Nations are calling on to be protected before any further development occurs in the Mackenzie River Basin.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Forestry partners have committed to managing 25 per cent (30 million hectares) of Canada's commercial forests according to the rigorous standards of the independent Forest Sterwardship Council. Currently, Canada has more hectares certified be the FSC than any other country in the world.

Protection for Seabirds with Bill C-15: As a direct result of WWF's advocacy and lobbying, the Canadian government passed new legislation which deters ship owners from illegally dumping bilge oil, saving hundreds of thousands of seabirds each year.

Banning the Hunting and Trapping of Wolves: WWF pushed the Ontario government to permanently ban the hunting and trapping of wolves in and around Algonquin Provincial Park.

Endangered Spaces Protection: WWF completed the ten-year Endangered Spaces Campaign that saw the addition of 38 million hectares - an area bigger than the size of Germany - to Canada's parks and protected lands.

Here are some projects that we are currently working on:

Fighting Climate Change: Promoting and implementing practical methods to address climate change is a major area of focus for WWF. Our goal is to make sure that Canada aggressively implements the Kyoto Protocol and continues to reduce greenhouse emissions through a major boost in energy efficiency across the country and lobbying for more clean, renewable power.

Cuba: Helping communities in Cuba to develop sustainable fisheries instead of harvesting endangered species like hawksbill sea turtles.

Atlantic Coast: The restoration of the Grand Banks coastal shelf off Newfoundland. Our plan focuses on reviving and protecting this critical marine habitat, reducing pollution and ensuring sustainable fishing practices to help heal this unique, and once productive and remarkable ecosystem.

Forest Protection: The conservation of over 500 million hectares of boreal forest - an area half the size of Canada - in partnership with other conservation organizations, industry, First Nations and governments. This bold initiative would see 50% of Canada's boreal forest legally protected, and the rest managed to the highest environmental standards.

Mackenzie Valley: Through community-led initiatives, WWF is working on the protection of ecologically and culturally significant areas and wildlife in the Mackenzie Valley before construction of a Mackenzie natural gas pipeline.