Conservation Impact Through Partnership the Natural Areas Conservation Program

CONSERVATION IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIP THE NATURAL AREAS CONSERVATION PROGRAM 2018-2019 A partnership for conservation ABOUT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CANADA Table of Contents The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada’s leading national private, not-for profit land conser- 3 A partnership for conservation vation organization. We protect and care for our most ecologically 4 Natural Areas Conservation Program significant lands and waters, and the species they sustain. 5 Land donations Our science-based conservation 5 A lasting partnership planning process drives our work. We partner with individuals, 6 British Columbia Canada’s nature inspires pride from coast to coast to coast When the Natural Areas Conservation Program (NACP) governments, Indigenous com- Making Darkwoods whole and in the forests, wetlands, prairies, and, yes, even deserts in launched on a snowy day 12 years ago, few would have predicted munities, corporations and others between. Recent scientific reports have shown how important its impact. A public-private partnership to advance conservation to achieve conservation solutions. 7 Alberta protecting nature is as our biodiversity faces decline. We also on the settled landscape was certainly an innovative idea, but We secure properties through Collaboration makes a global impact know that nature can provide up to 30 percent of the global would Canadians respond? A dozen years later, as we close the donation, purchase, conservation solution to climate change. By working to preserve nature, we books on the NACP, the overwhelming answer is yes! agreement and the relinquishment 8 Saskatchewan are protecting our plants and animals, absorbing and storing of private interests in land. We Protecting grasslands are proud to introduce the latest carbon, and conserving our natural heritage. On behalf of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, I’d like to edition of the Natural Areas 9 Manitoba express our thanks to Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Conservation Program Impact Over the past four years, our government worked to double the Environment and Climate Change, and the previous Minister, Memorial land donation announced Report, which summarizes what amount of protected nature. We are now going to act to ensure Catherine McKenna (2015-2019), for their tireless work to drive the partnership has achieved in 25 percent of Canada’s land and oceans are protected, by 2025. Canada forward on its conservation commitments. We are also the course of the last year and 10 Map Projects conserved under the grateful to our NACP partners, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) since its inception. The report also Through the Natural Areas Conservation Program, we have and the country’s land trust community, who embraced the includes accomplishments from Natural Areas Conservation Program conserved more than 550,000 hectares of ecologically important program. Finally, we offer our deepest gratitude to all of the our partners, including Ducks land across Canada — conserving wildlife habitat and protecting Canadians who gave of their time, talent and resources to ensure Unlimited Canada and regional 12 Ontario land trusts. Protecting one of the last wild Canada’s biodiversity, including species at risk. We have also the NACP was a success. collaborated with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to provide shorelines of Lake Ontario tax incentives to Canadians who donate ecologically sensitive Experts the world over are sounding the alarm about the signif- NatureConservancy.ca/NACP land to qualified conservation organizations. These programs are icant loss of biodiversity. There has never been a more urgent 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 410 13 Quebec Conservation puzzle coming together helping Canada conserve more nature. need for a program that brings Canadians together for nature. Toronto, Ontario, Canada | M4P 3J1 Though the NACP has expired, over the next four years NCC will north of Montreal We could not have accomplished this goal without the Nature oversee the new Natural Heritage Conservation Program. This For questions about the Natural Conservancy of Canada and its conservation partners. Together, time we are confident that Canadians will join us, that together Areas Conservation Program, 14 New Brunswick we are creating a natural legacy for future generations through we will meet the conservation challenge head on, and that the contact Paul Hewer, Manager, Family’s fifth land donation expands environmental conservation. momentum will continue. Government Relations area for migratory birds 1 877 231-3552 x 2268 [email protected] 15 Prince Edward Island On behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada, I would like Protecting a piece of precious coastline to congratulate the Nature Conservancy of Canada and its partners TM Trademarks owned by The Nature for their success in wildlife habitat conservation and stewardship, John John Lounds Lounds Conservancy of Canada 16 Nova Scotia under the Natural Areas Conservation Program. I look forward to President & CEO Restoring habitat for snapping turtles continuing our work together as we work to make sure our kids Nature Conservancy of Canada and grandkids can experience the wonder of Canada’s nature. 17 Newfoundland and Labrador Conserving forest in Freshwater Bay 18 Supporting Canada’s land trusts OGLE. STEVE PAGE: THIS FRICKE. THOMAS COVER: The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, PC, MP Minister of Environment and Climate Change JOHN LOUNDS: MIKE FORD. MIKE LOUNDS: JOHN Government of Canada NACP IMPACT REPORT 2018-2019 3 Natural Areas Land Conservation donations Canadians have strong connections Program to the iconic landscapes that span our country. For some Canadian families, The Natural Areas Conservation Program $1 billion in ties to the land span generations. These (NACP) was a unique public-private partnership to places hold deep meaning and fond accelerate the pace of private land conservation. conservation childhood memories, and are places for In addition, the program supported the imple- outcomes wedding ceremonies, stargazing and mentation of stewardship actions on conserved beautiful sunsets. These memories create lands and provided capacity development special connections to nature, and inspire support within Canada’s land trust community. a desire to ensure that the land remains wild for generations to come. This is espe- Since the NACP’s inception in 2007, the Nature cially true for David and Ann Love. Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Ducks Unlimited Canada and Canada’s land trusts leveraged the The Loves donated a portion of their program to expand natural corridors, protect $355 million property in the Happy Valley Forest migratory bird habitat and create innovative for conservation and north of Toronto so that it would remain partnerships to help species at risk. In the last year protection of lands wild and be able to sustain the species alone, the NACP supported the conservation of $700 million matched and communities that rely on it. They more than 105,000 hectares (259,460 acres) across from individuals, corporations, recognized the true value of the land, the country. This was thanks to a federal invest- foundations and other aptly named Love Mountain. Not only is ment of $22.5 million, matched by more than it the place where their children explored Love Mountain at Happy Valley Forest, Ontario $54 million from NCC and its partners. levels of government and learned about nature, it also contains $75 million freshwater springs — a source of drinking In the 12 years of the partnership, tremendous for endowment funds water for local communities. results were achieved. Since 2007, the program to ensure long-term resulted in the conservation of more than 550,000 stewardship of The Natural Areas Conservation Program Toward a new partnership hectares (more than 1.3 million acres) for 219 those lands (NACP) supported organizations like the species listed as at risk by the Committee on the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This is Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Can- for conservation an area as large as Gros Morne, Riding Mountain ada’s land trust community by providing and Grasslands national parks put together. $345 million from the incentives for Canadians to donate these This fiscal year we closed the book on the NACP. For 12 years, the unique public-private partner- 272 donated lands, knowing that they will be pro- ship was a model of environmental leadership. The NACP offered Canadians the opportunity to In that time, the Government of Canada invested Government of Canada, properties worth tected and cared for. The NACP helped become conservation leaders in their own communities through projects large and small. Every $345 million in the program. These public through the NACP $270 million total organizations with the ancillary costs of federal dollar invested in the program was matched 2:1 in non-federal contributions resulting in funds were matched by private contributions acquiring and caring for donated lands. more than $1 billion in conservation outcomes. of donated money and lands worth more than Since 2007, the NACP has supported 272 $700 million. The result was more than $1 billion donations of land to NCC, DUC and other Though NACP funds expired in spring 2019, the program’s momentum will not be lost. When in conservation outcomes. This investment conservation organizations in Canada, the federal government sought proposals for a new $100-million conservation initiative, NCC and also helped Canada’s

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