Strategy needed now to implement expert recommendations on protected areas

Strategy needed now to implement expert recommendations on protected areas

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On April 1, 2021 the Ontario government appointed a working group of conservation experts to “identify opportunities to protect and conserve more natural areas.” Now, over two years later, the report and recommendations of the working group have been made available to the public through a Freedom of Information request (thanks to the Wilderness Committee).

 The report, “A New Approach: Advancing Protected and Conserved Areas in Ontario,” urges immediate action, proposes a strategic framework for expanding protected areas, and calls for a “steadfast commitment from the top.” It emphasizes the critical importance of Indigenous-led conservation and nation-to-nation dialogue ...

On April 1, 2021 the Ontario government appointed a working group of conservation experts to “identify opportunities to protect and conserve more natural areas.” Now, over two years later, the report and recommendations of the working group have been made available to the public through a Freedom of Information request (thanks to the Wilderness Committee).

 The report, “A New Approach: Advancing Protected and Conserved Areas in Ontario,” urges immediate action, proposes a strategic framework for expanding protected areas, and calls for a “steadfast commitment from the top.” It emphasizes the critical importance of Indigenous-led conservation and nation-to-nation dialogue, in keeping with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also upholds the national and international goal of protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 (known as the 30 by 30 target) and provides a timeline by which this could be achieved in Ontario. 

According to polling commissioned by the working group, over 86 percent of Ontarians support the expansion of protected areas, and the majority would be willing to pay higher taxes to support this work. With this strong mandate, the government is well positioned to take ambitious steps towards expanding protected and conserved areas in Ontario. Opportunities abound, including Indigenous-led conservation proposals and grassroots efforts to identify potential candidate protected areas (highlighted on the shared Protected Places StoryMap). 

Given unprecedented and accelerating levels of biodiversity loss and ever spiraling climate change impacts, the need to expand and strengthen protected and conserved areas in Ontario has never been more urgent. They offer an immediate, tangible approach to conserving the plants, animals and ecosystems that sustain us and to enhancing our resilience to climate change. 

By implementing the working group’s key recommendations, the Government of Ontario could assume a leadership role in advancing the new Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by Canada and other parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal last December.  

Please join Ontario Nature in urging Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks to partner with Indigenous Nations and engage the public in developing and implementing a strategy to protect 30 percent of lands and waters in Ontario by 2030. 

Photo: Black Bay Peninsula © Superior Hiking CC BY 2.0

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Urge immediate action on protected areas

  • Minister Andrea Khanjin, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

  • Marit Stiles, NDP

  • Mike Schreiner, Green Party

  • John Fraser, Liberal Party

  • Your local MPP 

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