Canada Target 1 Challenge
The Target 1 Challenge is an investment by the federal government in projects that can add to Canada’s protected and conserved areas across the country. The Government of Canada is committed to conserving 25 percent of Canada’s land and 25 percent of its oceans by 2025.
About two-thirds of the projects are expected to establish a protected or conserved area in the near future (establishment projects). One-third of the projects are capacity-building projects, focused on preliminary work for protected and conserved areas in the longer term (5 to 10 years). These projects help to improve connectivity, advance Indigenous-led conservation and reconciliation, and have co-benefits for species at risk or carbon storage.
| Project name | Project description | Recipient | Province or territory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qat'muk: developing an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in the central Purcell Mountains (Establishment) | The Ktunaxa Nation Council Society is developing a proposal for a Ktunaxa Nation Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) to protect Ktunaxa cultural, biodiversity and other ecosystem values. | Ktunaxa Nation Council Society | British Columbia |
| Establishing Tahltan Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas through the Tahltan Nation Land Use Planning Process (Establishment) | The Tahltan Central Government is working toward identifying and protecting land that has significant cultural, ecological and sustenance value for Tahltan people through the Tahltan Land Use Planning process. | Tahltan Central Government | British Columbia |
| Accelerating Saskatchewan’s Commitments to Target 1 (Establishment) | The Government of Saskatchewan will create new protected areas in Selwyn Lake Upland and Tazin Lake Upland Ecoregions as well as expand one protected area in the Mid-boreal Lowlands (Lobstick Lake). | Government of Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan |
| A Collaborative Approach to Developing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Athabasca Dënesuliné Nuhenéné (Establishment) | In partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan, the Ya'thi Néné will work with neighbouring Athabasca Dene First Nations and communities to protect up to 600,000 ha by establishing Indigenous Protected Areas in the traditional territory of Nuhenene. | Ya'thi Néné Land and Resource Office | Saskatchewan |
| The Sakitawak Conservation Area: Multi-Interest Protection and Conservation in Trapping Block N-14, Saskatchewan, Canada (Preliminary work) | A La Baie Metis Local 21 will build capacity and conduct planning for future potential protection of habitats of vulnerable species and to promote sustainable development practices, and advance Indigenous way of life, knowledge systems and stewardship activities. | A La Baie Metis Local 21 | Saskatchewan |
| Manitoba Mixed-grass Prairie Securement Program (Establishment) | The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation will protect up to 27,000 hectares of undeveloped mixed-grass prairie habitat adjacent to three community pastures and maintain the biodiversity of the mixed-grass prairie though managed grazing. | Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC) | Manitoba |
| Seal River Watershed Indigenous Protected Area Initiative (Establishment) | The Sayisi Dene First Nation will work with local First Nations to develop permanent protection of the Seal River Watershed as an Indigenous Protected Area. | Sayisi Dene First Nation | Manitoba |
| Nitaskiinan: Planning to Protect our Hudson Bay Coastal Lands (Establishment) | The York Factory First Nation aim to establish a new Indigenous Protected Area. They will engage the Government of Manitoba, Fox Lake Cree Nation, Tataskweyak Creen Nation, War Lake First Nation and Shamattawa First Nation in discussions about protection and management of 4,660,900 hectares bordering the Hudson Bay. | York Factory First Nation | Manitoba |
| Aski Pahminahmaswin – Tataskweyak Cree Nation Indigenous Protected Area (Preliminary work) | The Tataskweyak Cree Nation Lands Department and community will work to identify key areas for future Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and land stewardship in the central and northern portions of their traditional territory. | Tataskweyak Cree Nation | Manitoba |
| Fisher River Cree Nation Conservation Areas Initiative (Preliminary work) | The Fisher River Cree Nation to work towards determining protected area boundaries and reducing barriers towards the establishment of a network of Indigenous led protected areas within the Fisher River Cree Nation traditional lands. | Fisher River Cree Nation | Manitoba |
| Chitek Lake Anishinaabe Provincial Park Expansion (Preliminary work) | The Skownan First Nation will work towards the eventual expansion of Chitek Lake Anishinaabe Provincial Park through the establishment of a management board and an Indigenous-led monitoring program. | Skownan First Nation | Manitoba |
| Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and Land Guardians - Phase 2 (Preliminary work) | The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Lands, Environment & Resources will initiate the next steps of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas planning with a specific focus on the Leftrook (Wapasihk) Lake (Sakahukun) watershed management plan and monitoring activities related to data collection. | NCN Lands, Environment & Resources | Manitoba |
| Manitoba's Caribou River Provincial Park to Wapusk National Park (Preliminary work) | The Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. will work towards the establishment of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in the area between Caribou River Provincial Park and Wapusk National Park. | Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. | Manitoba |
| Lenswood Kettle Hills Blueberry Patch Manitoba (Preliminary work) | The Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. will work towards the establishment of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in the Kettle Hills area of Manitoba. | Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. | Manitoba |
| Shawanaga Island Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (Establishment) | The Shawanaga First Nation will establish an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area to conserve important species, protect food security, facilitate understanding of and respect for Indigenous way of life, and to support development of conservation economies. | Shawanaga First Nation | Ontario |
| Establishing a First Nation Protected Area in the North French River Watershed (Preliminary work) | The Moose Cree First Nation will explore the feasibility of establishing a First Nations protected area in the North French River Watershed | Moose Cree First Nation | Ontario |
| Establishing an Indigenous Protected Area in the Fawn River Watershed (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug homeland) (Preliminary work) | The Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation explore the potential establishment of an Indigenous Protected Area in the Fawn River Watershed located in the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Homeland | Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation | Ontario |
| Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Protected Area (Preliminary work) | The Grassy Narrows First Nation will explore the feasibility of establishing the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek (ANA) lndigenous Protected and Conserved Area within their Traditional Territory | Grassy Narrows First Nation | Ontario |
| Establishing and co-managing a network of new protected areas based on areas of importance to the Crees of Eeyou Istchee (Establishment) | The Cree Nation Government aims to ensure full Cree participation in the creation of a network of protected areas on the Cree Eeyou Istchee lands. This network is designed to be hydrologically connected and will increase connectivity between existing protected areas as well as protect habitats for species at risk and culturally significant species including herds of Woodland Caribou. | Cree Nation Government | Québec |
| Conducting public consultations, a key step in the creation of nine new protected areas in Nunavik (Quebec, Canada) and the achievement of consensual conservation objectives (Establishment) | The Kativik Regional Government will mobilize stakeholders in Nunavik, Kawawachikamach and Whapmagoostui to undertake community consultation as part of the process of creating nine proposed protected areas covering an area of 2,980,000 ha by the Government of Quebec in Nunavik. This project will ensure a strong community involvement and is an essential step in the process that will allow the nine consensual territories to pass from a temporary administrative protection to a legal status of biodiversity reserve under the Natural Heritage Conservation Act. | Kativik Regional Government | Québec |
| Protection Mutehekau Shipu / Rivière Magpie (Establishment) | The Conseil des Innu de Ekuanitshit will pursue official recognition and protection of an area comprising the entire Magpie River and a significant part of its watershed. While much of the Innu of Ekuanitshit’s history and memories inhabits this area, the project will also allow the documentation of Innu values and traditional and ecological knowledge on the territory. | Conseil des Innu de Ekuanitshit | Québec |
| Protection of Pipmuacan by the Première Nation innue de Pessamit (Establishment) | The Conseil des Innus de Pessamit aims at creating a protected area in the Pipmuacan area that will help protect Innu culture and heritage, as well as boreal caribou and its habitat. | Conseil des Innu de Pessamit | Québec |
| From Anticosti to Nunavik: together for protected areas (Establishment) | The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) – Quebec branch will contribute to the creation process of three new protected areas in the regions of Bas Saint-Laurent, Lotbinière, and Anticosti Island. | CPAWS (SNAP)-Québec | Québec |
| Ya'nienhonhndeh protected area (Establishment) | The Conseil de la Nation huronne-wendat will take part in the process of officially recognizing of the Ya'nienhonhndeh protected area of approximately 71,000 ha. This territory contains the last virgin forest of the Nation’s traditional territory, the Nionwentsïo, and is also the area in the Nionwentsïo with the highest concentration of intact Huron-Wendat heritage sites. | Conseil de la Nation huronne-wendat | Québec |
| Inuit Protected and Conserved Area for Arqvilliit (Ottawa Islands) Nunavik (Establishment) | The community of Inukjuak Nunavik aims to create a 24,000 ha lndigenous Protected and Conserved Area for Arqvilliit (Ottawa Islands). Arqvilliit has always been occupied by Nunavik Inuit since time immemorial. This project will protect habitats for species at risk including the polar bear, a culturally significant species for the Inuit. The protection of Arqvilliit is an important step towards reconciliation with Nunavik Inuit by recognizing and respecting their way of life and the animals on which they rely for their health, culture and livelihood. | Inukjuak Local Nunavimmi Umajulivijiit Katujiqatigininga (LNUK) and Northern Village (NV) of Inukjuak | Nunavut |
| Masko Cimakanic Askic (Preliminary work) | Supporting an initiative from a Wemotaci family, the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw is working toward an Indigenous Protected area to restore living environment, insure social well-being and reinforce traditional land system. Masko Cimakanic Aski is part of the ancestral land called Nitaskinan and represents a traditional family territory. | Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw | Québec |
| Protection of Cambrian Lake, Nachicapau Lake and Fort McKenzie (Waskaikinis) Areas (Preliminary work) | The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach aims to do the groundwork for the protection of the biodiversity and Indigenous cultural use of the Cambrian Lake area and the Nachicapau Lake area. | Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach | Québec |
| Pathway to Canada Target 1: Outaouais takes action to reach 17% (Preliminary work) | This project will result in planning activities within the creation process of a protected area by the government of Québec. The protected area proposed by the CREDDO and CPAWS within the project would obtain a permanent legal status and targets a territory of more than 115,000 ha in the Noire and Coulonge river watersheds. | Conseil Régional de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable de l’Outaouais (CREDDO) | Québec |
| Qikiqtait: The Belcher Islands Archipelago Protected and Conserved Area (Establishment) | The Arctic Eider Society will explore the potential of creating “Qikiqtait” a community-driven protected and conserved area for the Belcher Islands archipelago (potential of 323,800 hectares in total). | The Arctic Eider Society | Nunavut |
| Conservation Measures on Inuit Owned Lands (Establishment) | The Qikiqtani Inuit Association will increase the Bathurst Island protected lands (by 225,644 ha) for conserving Peary Caribou. They will also determine preliminary management options of 638,032 ha of Inuit Owned Lands and investigate the creation of Inuit Protected and Conserved Areas. | Qikiqtani Inuit Association | Nunavut |
| Establish the Aviqtuuq Inuit Protected and Conserved Area (Preliminary work) | Spence Bay Hunter and Trapper Association will enable collaborative planning and negotiations on a potential Aviqtuuq Inuit Protected and Conserved Area to protect the Boothia Peninsula in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut. | Spence Bay Hunters and Trapper Association | Nunavut |
| Identification and Conservation of Traditional Lands as OECMs through Tlicho Government Land Use Plan Review Process (Establishment) | The Tłı̨chǫ Government will undertake a review of the ‘Land Use Protection Zones’ in the Tłı̨chǫ Land Use Plan, to focus on the Gowhadõ Yek’e t’ii k’e (Traditional Use Zone) 5,521 km² and Tłı̨chǫ Nawoo Ké Dét’ahot’ìı (Cultural Heritage Zone) 16,658 km². This project help will align Land Use Zones with the land use and land protection goals of the Tłı̨chǫ. | Tłı̨chǫ Government | Northwest Territories |
| Thaidene Nëné Indigenous and Territorial Protected Area Establishment | The Government of the Northwest Territories has established Thaidene Nëné as a territorial protected area under the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Act in partnership with several NWT Indigenous governments. It will also complete the creation of a Conservation Area under the Northwest Territories Wildlife Act in 2021. Thaidene Nëné will result in protection of biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural continuity. | Government of the Northwest Territories | Northwest Territories |
| Thaidene Nëné Establishment | The Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation has established the Thaidene Nëné Protected Areas, in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. The Thaidene Nene Protected Areas includes a National Park Reserve, a Territorial Protected Area and will include a Conservation Area that will contribute a total of 2,630,000 ha in new, permanently protected areas. | Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation | Northwest Territories |
| Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta Indigenous and Territorial Protected Area Establishment | The Government of the Northwest Territories will establish Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta as a territorial protected area designated under the NWT Protected Areas Act. | Government of the Northwest Territories | Northwest Territories |
| Ts’udé Niliné Tuyeta Indigenous and Territorial Protected Area Establishment | The Yamoga Land Corporation to establish management of Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta as both an Indigenous protected area under K’asho Got’ine Law and a territorial protected area designated under the NWT Protected Areas Act. | Yamoga Land Corporation | Northwest Territories |
| Dinàgà Wek’èhodì Indigenous and Territoral Protected Area Establishment | The Government of the Northwest Territories is working towards establishing Dinàgà Wek'èhodì as a territorial protected area designated under the Northwest Terrritories Protected Areas Act in partnership with the Tłı̨chǫ Government the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, the North Slave Métis Alliance and the Wek'èezhìi- Renewable Resources Board. | Government of the Northwest Territories | Northwest Territories |
| Dinàgà Wek’èhodì Indigenous and Territorial Protected Area Establishment | The Tłı̨chǫ Government is working towards establishing Dinàgà Wek'èhodì as a territorial protected area designated under the Northwest Terrritories Protected Areas Act in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Yellowknives Dene First Nat¡on, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, the North Slave Métis Alliance and the Wek'eezhie Renewable Resource Board. | Tłı̨chǫ Government | Northwest Territories |
| Sahtu K'aowe Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (Preliminary work) | The Del’ine Got’ine Government will review and propose amendments of zones 23-25 under the Sahtu Land Use Plan to align this area with IUCN category IV of conservation. They will research and determine the land management tool to be used for the areas, and seek partnerships in order to protect Great Bear Lake as a water body. | Del’ine Got’ine Government | Northwest Territories |
| Developing a Conservation Designation for the Eastern Yukon North Slope (Establishment) | The Wildlife Management Advisory Council will facilitate the negotiation of an Establishment Agreement for the Eastern Yukon North Slope. | Wildlife Management Advisory Council | Yukon |
| Peel Watershed Land Use Plan (Establishment) | The Government of Yukon will work with four First Nations to designate approximately 3,897,400 ha of protected areas in the Peel Watershed Planning Region. | Government of Yukon | Yukon |
| Tu Lidilini and Ni'o Ne P'ene' Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (Preliminary work) | The Ross River Dena Council will acquire support from the Yukon Government for a delineated Indigenous and Protected Conserved Area. | Ross River Dena Council | Yukon |
| Liard first Nation Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area Network of Protected Areas in Southeast Yukon (Preliminary work) | The Liard First Nation will identify areas of cultural, heritage and high conservation value, and negotiate with government and other First Nations for the development of a regional land use planning process. | Liard First Nation | Yukon |
| Ninä`nkäk hozo wëk’ä`tr’ë`no`hcha: Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Land Stewardship Framework (Preliminary work) | The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Government will work with the Yukon Government and three First Nations to designate protected areas within the Peel Watershed Planning Region. | Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Government | Yukon |
| Expansion and Improvement of the Protected and Conserved Areas Network on Prince Edward Island (Establishment) | The Government of Prince Edward Island will conserve approximately 4,400 hectares of high-priority areas and habitats, including PEI’s forests and wetlands, and will expand upon existing protected areas and establish new conserved areas in the province. This will have numerous benefits for species at risk including the common nighthawk, the Canada warbler, and the rusty blackbird. | Government of Prince Edward Island | Prince Edward Island |
| Yukon River Shaheenx' Southern Lakes Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area Network (Preliminary work) | The Kwanlin Dün First Nation will support the Southern Lakes How We Walk With The Land and Water Indigenous land relationship planning process. | Kwanlin Dün First Nation | Yukon |
| Tlatsini The Places That Make Us Strong Taku River Tlingit First Nation Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (Preliminary work) | This project will support the Taku River Tlingit in capacity building and engagement to explore conservation opportunities within their traditional territory, including the Taku, Whiting, and Yukon river watersheds that encompass enormous areas of boreal forest and wetland habitat. | Taku River Tlingit First Nation | British Columbia |
| Kaska Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (Preliminary work) | This project will allow the Dena Kayeh Institute to build capacity to assess stewardship opportunities for the areas between the edge of the boreal plains on the east to the Cassiar and Omineca Mountains on the west, encompassing a vast area of forested wilderness that includes overlap with the ranges of seven Northern Mountain Caribou herds. | Dena Kayeh Institute | British Columbia |
| Metis Settlements Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas Initiative (establishment) | The Metis Settlements General Council will work to conserve land in the vicinities of Wolf Lake, Touchwood Lake, and North Buck Lake. Their work will protect habitats for species at risk including the woodland caribou and grizzly bear. | Metis Settlements General Council | Alberta |
| Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Park – Phase 2 expansion (Establishment) | The Mikisew Cree First Nation will work with the province, industry, and land owners to expand the existing Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Provincial Park in Alberta. | Mikisew Cree First Nation | Alberta |
| Métis Nation of Alberta Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (Preliminary work) | This project will help the Métis Nation of Alberta build capacity to create new protected areas through establishing partnerships and conducting land monitoring and research activities to establish protected areas in the future. | Métis Nation of Alberta | Alberta |
| Saskatchewan River Delta - A Collaborative Approach to Expanding Protected Areas and Multi-Species Conservation in Northern Saskatchewan (Preliminary work) | This project will support the Saskatchewan River Community Development Corporation under take research and build capacity to establish a conservation area near Cumberland House, SK. | Saskatchewan River Community Development Corporation | Saskatchewan |
| Protecting Species, Habitats, Ecosystems and Enduring Features across Ecological Regions in New Brunswick (Establishment) | The Government of New Brunswick will work with First Nations and partners to double the amount of protected area across New Brunswick's ecozones. | Government of New Brunswick, Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development | New Brunswick |
| Reconciliation & Stewardship through Land Conservation in Mi’gmaq Traditional Territory of Fort Folly First Nation and the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve (Establishment) | This project will establish a network of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA) that represent and reflect the cultural and ecological values of Fort Folly First Nation in and around Dorchester, Elgin and Alma New Brunswick. | Fort Folly First Nation | New Brunswick |
| Establishing the Skutik Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) in New Brunswick, Canada (Establishment) | The Passamaquoddy will work the province of New Brunswick and other stakeholders to develop an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) along the Skutik/St. Croix River in the traditional territory in New Brunswick of the Peskotomuhkati Nation. | Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc. | New Brunswick |
| New Brunswick Mi'gmaq Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas Proposal (Establishment) | This project will identify areas of conservation priority for eight Migmaw communities in New Brunswick represented by Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc. (MTI). Working with partners such as the Province of New Brunswick, Parks Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Nature Trust of New Brunswick, MTI will establish an Indigenous protected and conserved areas throughout Mi’gmaq territory in New Brunswick. | Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc. | New Brunswick |
| Wolustokwiyik/Maliseet Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (WMIPCA) (Establishment) | The Maliseet Nation Conservation Council will work to establish Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) with the goal of developing connectivity within the Saint John River basin, the traditional territory of Wolastoqiyik People in New Brunswick | Maliseet Nation Conservation Council | New Brunswick |
| Advancing Target 1 in Nova Scotia – A Collaborative Conservation Approach (Establishment) | This project will work to advance a well-connected network of protected and conserved areas in Nova Scotia. The activities will take place throughout Nova Scotia on priority lands and protect land through a combination of Provincial Crown land, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and private land securement. | Nova Scotia Environment | Nova Scotia |
| Creating Indigenous Protected Areas within the Traditional Territory of Miawpukek First Nation (Preliminary work) | This project will conduct capacity building activities to support Miawpukek First Nation’s ability to make recommendations to the Province on the establishment of new protected and conserved areas on the island of Newfoundland, in the Boreal Shield ecozone. | Miawpukek First Nation | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Innu Parks Project / Minashkuau Kanakutuataku (Preliminary work) | This project will facilitate the building of capacity within Innu Nation to enable it to make recommendations to governments on, and engage with the Province to support, habitat protection for species at risk in Labrador, including the Peregrine Falcon and the Wolverine. | Innu Nation | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Proposed Agguttinni Territorial Park (Establishment) | The Government of Nunavut will work to create a new protected area in Agguttinni on Inuit owned lands. The new territorial park will protect critical habitat for several species at risk, important wildlife habitats and cultural sites currently valued for harvesting, camping and travel. | Government of Nunavut | Nunavut |
| Southern Ontario Nature Coalition Protecting Nature and People (Preliminary work) | The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and partners will identify options to establish protected and conserved areas that address the unique challenges of peri-urban locations in and adjacent to the Greenbelt, support ecological connections and improve management of peri-urban natural areas. | Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation | Ontario |
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