Stand.earth statement on federal nature strategy

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, B.C.) — Stand.earth welcomes the announcement of billions in new funding for nature conservation initiatives as part of Canada’s new Force of Nature strategy, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on March 31. It is reassuring to see the federal government commit to a vision of “a Canada that protects, restores, and values nature as a foundation of our economy, sovereignty, and well-being, leading at home and globally, to ensure healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and prosperity for present and future generations.” 

Stand now calls on Prime Minister Carney to implement this strategy comprehensively and uniformly across the whole of government, so that at-risk ecosystems are truly restored and protected in the long term. As it is, the new nature strategy does not  provide concrete pathways to reverse the extinction crisis and work with other levels of government to prevent resource extraction in critical habitats.

Funding for nature is always worth celebrating. However, the government will undermine its own initiative if it continues pushing forward with destructive fossil fuel megaprojects and fast-tracking legislation that puts profit over communities and violates Indigenous rights.

A nature strategy only works if it protects areas at high risk. This strategy emphasizes Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs), which can be used as a loophole for industry to keep destroying sensitive ecosystems. In British Columbia, OECMs often operate to give the illusion that rare old growth forests are protected, when in fact the opposite is true. An effective nature strategy must put funds into efforts to stop harmful industrial activity like old growth logging, not draw lines on a map around destructive resource extraction.

Species at risk 

Like the rest of the world, Canada is in an extinction crisis – and the number of endangered species has increased in recent years. Stand calls on the government to ensure that this new funding helps secure protections for species-at-risk habitat to reverse this trend. The federal government has a legal obligation to protect species at risk from extinction, but is repeatedly finding itself in court for failing to uphold its basic responsibilities under the law.

Oceans

Marine Protected Areas are a critical part of ocean protection, and need strong regulations to accompany any funding. Protected areas must include strong anti-pollution and wildlife protection rules to keep the oceans clean and with an abundance of fish. Indigenous guardians are an example of how conservation funding can be used to create local jobs and put coastal protection directly into the hands of those who know it best. If we take care of the ecosystem by meaningfully defending it, we will be able to enjoy the coast, eat locally sourced fish and seafood, and support good jobs for generations to come.

Backtracking on climate policy 

To be clear, new funding for nature does not negate the harmful impacts of aggressively pursuing oil and gas expansion while back-tracking on a decade of climate policy. In 2025 alone Canada lost 8.78 million hectares of wilderness to wildfires, an area larger than the province of New Brunswick. The largest and fastest growing source of climate pollution in Canada is oil and gas extraction. Prime Minister Carney cannot protect nature without addressing climate change, and that starts by articulating a plan to rein in the oil and gas sector.

Funds must also be prioritized for Indigenous Nations to implement their land use visions and protect their territories, including where Indigenous Peoples are resisting federally-backed resource extraction projects.

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