Community-Nominated Priority Places projects

1. BC - Kootenay Connect: The lead recipient, Kootenay Conservation Program, is a collaboration between conservation organizations in the Kootenay region. The project aims to enhance, restore, and manage large riparian and wetland complexes to support the recovery of 16 listed species at risk, including Grizzly Bear, and over a dozen species of concern not yet listed. The project is in the North Columbia River riparian wetlands of the Kootenay region in southeastern British Columbia, covering 218,000 hectares.

2. BC - Integrated Rocky Mountain Trench Dry Forest Ecosystem Restoration project: The Ɂaq̓am community will collaborate with Tobacco Plains Indian Band and the Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society to restore open dry forest and grassland habitat and support the recovery of 19 listed species at risk, such as Lewis's Woodpecker and American Badger, as well as species of concern like Bighorn Sheep and species of cultural significance to Indigenous people. The project will occur in the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia, covering 262,983 hectares.

3. SK - Managing Species at Risk in the Greater Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve Area: The Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve Association and partners, such as Ducks Unlimited Canada, Mistawasis Nehiyawak and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, will collaborate on priority actions, such as brush clearing, removal of invasive species, and restoration of native prairie to benefit up to 22 listed species at risk and up to 41 species of concern. The project is on the Mistawasis and Muskeg Lake First Nations lands and surrounding areas of west central Saskatchewan, covering 112,200 hectares.

4. SK - Conservation Planning and Recovery Action Implementation in Saskatchewan's Southwest Sand Hills: The Nature Conservancy of Canada will work with partners, including Nature Saskatchewan and Bird Studies Canada, to plan conservation actions and monitoring in the Southwest Sand Hills area. The project will also take action to reduce key threats, such as agriculture, oil and gas, alteration of natural fire cycle, and invasive species, benefiting 29 listed species at risk, including the Burrowing Owl and Piping Plover. The project will occur in the Southwest Sand Hills area in the Prairie Ecozone and will cover 1,253,999 hectares.

5. MB - Reinforcing and Enhancing Multi Species at Risk Recovery with Partners in the Tall Grass Prairie Landscape: The Nature Conservancy of Canada will work with the Manitoba Naturalists Society, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, government partners, and the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn to improve habitat and reduce threats to 25 listed species at risk, including Western Prairie Fringed Orchid and the Monarch. The project will occur in southeastern Manitoba and cover 445,628 hectares.

6. ON - Georgian Bay Biosphere Region Priority Place Collective Action for Species at Risk and Biodiversity Conservation: The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and co-applicants, including Shawanaga First Nation, Magnetawan First Nation and Georgian Bay Land Trust, will work with partners to gather data, and plan and implement actions to address threats, such as roads and railroads, invasive plants and climate change. The project will benefit 46 listed species at risk, including the Blanding’s Turtle and the Massasauga Rattlesnake, as well as six COSEWIC-assessed species not yet listed. The project will cover 347,000 hectares in the Eastern Georgian Bay region of Ontario.

7. ON - Planning, Fostering, and Protecting a Final Refuge: A Community-based and Collaborative Course to Secure Species at Risk, Priority Habitats, and Essential Services of the Land Between Bioregion: This project is a collaboration of The Land Between, Scales Nature Park, Blazing Star Environmental, Couchiching Conservancy, Curve Lake First Nation, Watersheds Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital, Trent Severn Waterway and the Land Trust for Frontenac, Lennox and Addington. The project includes data collection, planning, habitat restoration, and education to benefit 57 listed species at risk, such as the Little Brown Myotis, and Eastern Algonquin Wolf in central Ontario from Georgian Bay to the Frontenac Arch, covering 2,984,600 hectares.

8. QC - The Northern Green Mountains: towards land management for the protection and recovery of species at risk: Appalachian Corridor will collaborate with environmental nongovernmental organizations, municipalities, provincial agencies, and other conservation organizations to build capacity and address the threats of agriculture, forestry, invasive species and urban development in the Appalachians Region of Quebec, covering 345,478 hectares.

The project will benefit 11 listed species at risk, including Eastern Whippoorwill and Barn Swallow, and 138 other species of conservation concern.

9. QC - Critical habitat protection for the recovery of species at risk in the Magdalen Islands: Attention FragÎles will work with environmental non-governmental organizations, municipalities, provincial departments, and outdoor recreation clubs to develop a collaborative approach to conservation and management of critical habitat, build capacity and reduce land use conflicts. The project will benefit 11 listed species at risk, such as Horned Grebe and Shorteared Owl, as well 36 species of concern not yet listed. The project is in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the Archipelago of Magdalen Islands, covering 20,550 hectares.

10. PEI - Prince Edward Island Coastal Ecosystems: Understanding Connections, Protecting & Sharing the Space: Island Nature Trust will work with Abegweit Conservation Society, University of Prince Edward Island, and multiple watershed groups to create an action plan and address key threats, such as urban development, human disturbance, climate change and problematic species, to support the recovery of 8 listed species at risk, including Piping Plover and Bank Swallow, as well species of significance to Mi'kmaq. The project is in the terrestrial coastal regions of PEI, covering 800 linear kilometres of shoreline.

11. NS - Maliamu’kik msit ko’kmanaq – A collaborative approach to managing diverse ecosystems for the benefit of Species at Risk in the Bras d’Or: Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources will work with partners from industry, provincial and federal government, municipalities, non-government organizations, and private landowners to create an action plan and address key threats using a two-eyed seeing approach to integrate scientific and Indigenous world views. This project will benefit 18 listed species at risk, including Canada Warbler and Wood Turtle, as well as six COSEWIC-assessed species at risk. The project will occur in the Bras d'Or Lake Watershed of Nova Scotia, covering 350,000 hectares.

12. NB - Building a two-eyed seeing community-based species at risk conservation framework in coastal zones of Eastern New Brunswick: Nature NB will work with Anqotum Resource Management, Nature Conservancy Canada, Bird Studies Canada, Nature Trust New Brunswick, and Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc to develop and implement community-based conservation plans to address specific conservation threats and targets. The project will directly benefit at least 14 listed species at risk, including Piping Plover and Red Knot. The project will occur in the Acadian Peninsula and coastal regions of the Northumberland Strait in New Brunswick, covering 226,510 hectares.

13. NS and NB - A community of practice to protect and recover species at risk on the Chignecto Isthmus: Nature Conservancy of Canada will work with partners, including Bird Studies Canada, Community Forests International, Fort Folly Habitat Recovery Program, and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq - Mi'kmaw Conservation Group, to build and strengthen community relationships, develop a conservation plan, build public awareness, and deliver programs benefiting species at risk. The project will benefit 20 listed species at risk, including Common Nighthawk and Wood Turtle, and 20 additional species of concern. It will occur in the Chignecto Isthmus region of both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, covering 739,596 hectares.

14. NL - Conserving & Understanding the Species at Risk of Cape Freels: Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation will work with the Town of New-Wes-Valley, the Local Service District of Cape Freels, Stewardship Association of Municipalities, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, The Homestead Adventures, and Bird Studies Canada to develop a governance structure and conservation action plan, followed by conservation actions to reduce threats to species at risk, restore habitat, and complement existing conservation and stewardship activities. This project will benefit a variety of listed species at risk, such as Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Little Brown Myotis, along with other declining species, especially shorebirds.

The project will occur in the Cape Freels region of Newfoundland, covering 1,200 hectares.

15. NL - Recovery Action for Species at Risk in Western Newfoundland: Intervale Associates Inc. will work with partners, including Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band, to create a governance structure and conservation plan for actions to address key threats, such as human disturbance, by-catch and resource extraction. This project will benefit 19 listed species at risk, such as Piping Plover and Long's Braya in western Newfoundland, from Port aux Basques to Cape Norman at the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula, covering 3,242,691 hectares.