Prime Minister Mark Carney has introduced a sweeping $3.8 billion nature conservation strategy aimed at safeguarding Canada's vast natural heritage. The plan, titled "A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature," was unveiled during a news conference in Wakefield, Quebec, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Ambitious Goals for Land and Water Protection
The strategy sets a bold target to protect 30% of Canada's lands and waters by 2030, aligning with commitments made at the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal. This represents a significant increase from current levels, with terrestrial conservation set to nearly double from 14% to 30%, and marine conservation rising from 15% to 28%.
Carney emphasized Canada's unique ecological assets, stating, "Canada is home to 20% of the world's freshwater, 25% of the world's wetlands, almost a quarter of the world's boreal forest, and more than 80,000 species." He highlighted iconic wildlife such as polar bears, beavers, and Canada geese, along with unique species like the eastern wolf and Vancouver Island marmot.
Substantial Funding and New Protected Areas
The $3.8 billion investment will fund the creation of up to 14 new marine protected and conservation areas, as well as at least 10 new national parks and freshwater marine conservation areas. Over the next four years, this initiative is expected to protect approximately 1.6 million square kilometers of land and up to 700,000 square kilometers of oceans.
Additionally, the plan allocates $90 million specifically to support the recovery of at-risk Wood Bison populations along the Alberta-Northwest Territories border, addressing concerns about declining wildlife populations.
Integrating Conservation with Economic Development
The strategy goes beyond traditional conservation approaches by seeking to align industrial frameworks with environmental goals. Carney explained that improved mapping of biodiversity and carbon sequestration capacity will create "predictable pathways for project approvals" and catalyze investment in conservation.
"Nature can be a force for good, mobilizing private capital that protects the environment," Carney stated. "When the private sector incorporates reducing emissions and protecting nature in their value chains, they have greater incentives to invest and are more motivated to reduce practices that result in habitat loss and pollution."
New Task Force on Natural Capital
A key component of the strategy is the launch of an expert task force on natural capital accounting and nature financing, set to begin its work this spring. This task force will recommend new policies and tools to integrate environmental considerations into economic and corporate decision-making, encouraging conservation-minded investment from both public and private sectors.
The Prime Minister's Office emphasized that this comprehensive approach represents a fulfillment of Canada's 2022 conservation pledge, joining 195 other nations in the global effort to protect biodiversity. The strategy aims not only to preserve Canada's natural heritage but also to position nature as an economic asset that provides ongoing benefits to society.
