Protecting habitat for wildlife and birds: international contributions
International Contributions
Environment and Climate Change Canada participates in various international conservation programs and conventions. For example, many of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s protected areas are internationally recognized and contribute toward Canada’s international commitments, including the following:
- The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention), signed in 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, which identifies wetlands of international ecological significance. Seventeen of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s protected areas are within one of the 37 Ramsar sites in Canada, such as Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area -- the first Ramsar site established in North America (in 1978).
- The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, which links together sites in North, Central and South America that are essential to migrating shorebirds. Shepody National Wildlife Area was named Canada’s first such reserve, in 1987.
- Important Bird Areas, a BirdLife International program established for the protection of critical habitat for the world’s birds. There are 89 Important Bird Areas among Environment and Climate Change Canada's network of protected areas.
At the federal level, Environment and Climate Change Canada administers the 1916 Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds, signed between Canada and the United States, one of the first international environmental treaties in North America. The Convention was amended in 1995 by the Parksville Protocol.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has also played a prominent role in the implementation of the 1992 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which is aimed at the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. One of the first actions taken by Canada under this convention was the development of the 1995 Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, an overarching framework on biodiversity conservation to enhance coordination of national efforts. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s protected areas network is integral to advancing many of the principles outlined in this strategy.
As a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Environment and Climate Change Canada further contributes to a variety of projects on an on-going basis, including the World Database on Protected Areas, for which Environment and Climate Change Canada serves as the coordinator of the national reporting process on all protected areas in Canada, executed through the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas.
For more information on Canada's involvement in global conservation efforts, consult the International Programs and Conventions section under Wildlife Habitat.
Page details
- Date modified: