Canadian biodiversity: our living legacy
Beyond providing the necessities of life, Canada’s natural wealth is a cornerstone of the Canadian economy and the key to continued growth in sectors such as agriculture, ecotourism and recreation. Biodiversity also serves as the basis for the emerging bio-based economy, including the genomics, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Many Aboriginal communities, particularly in the North, depend on the sustainable harvesting of biological resources from intact ecosystems for their livelihoods, food, cultural and ceremonial needs. These communities also have interests and are involved in the commercial uses of biodiversity and the emerging bio-based economy.
By acting together, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments in cooperation with Aboriginal governments, businesses, conservation groups, individual citizens and others, can build a sustainable future for tomorrow.
More information about biodiversity in Canada can be found on Canada’s biodiversity website.
2020 Biodiversity goals and targets for Canada
Federal, provincial and territorial governments have worked together for decades to sustain Canada’s biodiversity. Since the signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992, governments have collaborated on many initiatives, beginning with the development of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy in 1995, the Biodiversity Outcomes Framework in 2006, and now the 2020 biodiversity goals and targets.
In order to achieve their long-term biodiversity outcomes, federal, provincial and territorial governments developed a set of 4 medium-term goals and 19 targets. Like many countries, Canada’s goals and targets were informed and inspired by the global Aichi targets and tuned to the domestic context.
Canada’s goals are:
- By 2020, Canada’s lands and waters are planned and managed using an ecosystem approach to support biodiversity conservation outcomes at local, regional and national scales.
- By 2020, direct and indirect pressures as well as cumulative effects on biodiversity are reduced, and production and consumption of Canada’s biological resources are more sustainable.
- By 2020, Canadians have easy access to adequate and relevant information about biodiversity and ecosystem services to support conservation planning and decision-making.
- By 2020, Canadians are informed about the value of nature and more actively engaged in its stewardship.
These are supported by 19 targets addressing a range of topics including species and wetland conservation, sustainable forestry and aquaculture, Aboriginal traditional knowledge, and getting Canadians out into nature.
The complete 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada can also be found on Canada’s biodiversity website.
A federal, provincial and territorial effort
The goals and targets were developed through collaboration between the federal, provincial and territorial governments. A broad range of partners, Aboriginal organizations and stakeholders, as well as non-government organizations, academic and research organizations and the private sector were engaged.
Many provinces and territories have their own biodiversity strategies and policies that support the conservation of biodiversity.
For example, Alberta is developing Alberta’s Biodiversity Policy. The policy will provide provincial-scale direction for the conservation, restoration and maintenance of Alberta’s biodiversity.
Released in 2012, Tomorrow Now - Manitoba's Green Plan is the government's eight-year strategic plan for mobilizing Manitobans to work together to protect the environment while ensuring a prosperous and environmentally conscious economy.
The Ontario government developed Ontario’s first biodiversity strategy in 2005 and established the Ontario Biodiversity Council to guide its implementation. In 2011 the council developed Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, 2011 and the government published Biodiversity: It’s In Our Nature, an implementation plan for advancing biodiversity conservation under the Strategy.
In Quebec, the CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets form the background for the renewed efforts toward conserving biological diversity leading to the adoption of the Orientations gouvernementales en matière de diversité biologique 2013.
In addition to overall biodiversity strategies, many jurisdictions have policies and initiatives in place or in development that support the conservation of biodiversity. These include, among others, species at risk management efforts, wetland conservation policies, protected area strategies, and invasive species management efforts.
A collective responsibility
All sectors of Canadian society have an important part to play. Progress will be made through a variety of efforts by governments at all levels, as well as the efforts of businesses, cities, research institutes, Aboriginal communities, private land owners and youth organizations. Also essential are the contributions made by aboriginal government initiatives as well as stewardship, restoration and monitoring projects by businesses, communities, schools and individuals.
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development on June 5, 1992. Canada was the first industrialized country to sign and ratify the CBD, affixing its signature on June 11 and ratifying on December 4 of the same year. The Convention came into force on December 29, 1993. There are presently 193 Parties to the CBD, 192 member states and the European Union.
In October 2010, Canada and other Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity agreed on the Convention’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The Strategic Plan is a globally aspirational and flexible framework of goals and targets. Parties were urged to develop their own national targets adapted to their domestic situation.
