|  Introduction  |  Path Forward |  Background  |

Introduction

Canada Target 1 is one of the 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada. It states:

By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water, and 10% of marine and coastal areas of Canada are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based measures.

The Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative has produced the One with Nature report, which provides broad guidance to meet the terrestrial and inland water elements of Canada Target 1. The guidance includes four priorities:

• Expand the systems of federal, provincial and territorial protected and conserved areas.

• Promote greater recognition and support for existing Indigenous rights, responsibilities, and priorities in conservation.

• Maximize conservation outcomes.

• Build support and participation for conservation with a broader community

These priorities are designed to address three key challenges to biodiversity conservation in Canada:

• protecting the right amount of habitat to support viable populations of all species;

• protecting the right areas so protected and conserved areas can function as a representative ecological network, not simply as “islands of green;” and

• managing areas in the right way—a way that looks for cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries, and respects natural boundaries where possible.

These challenges can be addressed, in part, using pan-Canadian tools for conservation that support progress towards Canada Target 1 through the creation and recognition of:

• Protected areas,

• Indigenous protected and conserved areas (IPCAs), and

• Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).

Path Forward

The Pathway vision:

In the spirit and practice of reconciliation, Canada conserves its natural diversity in interconnected networks of protected and conserved areas for the enduring benefit of nature and future generations, through collective efforts in the Pathway to Canada Target 1 and beyond.

Pathway to Canada Target 1 objectives

• To encourage efforts among governments and land management partners to contribute to achieving Canada Target 1, including conserving at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland waters of Canada by 2020 through protected areas, Indigenous protected and conserved areas, and other effective area-based conservation measures;

• To develop implementation guidance for establishing and coordinating a network of terrestrial protected areas, Indigenous protected and conserved areas, and other effective conservation measures across Canada that are effectively and equitably managed, well-connected and integrated into the wider landscape, including areas of importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services and that together achieve ecological representation; and

• To co-ordinate annual updates on progress towards achieving Canada Target 1, including the national target of at least 17% and implementation of the guidance.

Collaborative approach:

The time is right for all Canadians to embrace a collaborative approach to biodiversity conservation— one that:

• recognizes the integral role of Indigenous Peoples as leaders in conservation, and respects the rights, responsibilities, and priorities of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples;

• looks for cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries, is holistic and ecosystem-based, and includes local governments and other partners in conservation;

• considers climate change, ecosystem processes and services, and their associated scales and rates of change; and

• provides opportunities for local conservation economies such as sustainable tourism and recreation, fosters appreciation for nature and Indigenous culture, and promotes active and healthy lifestyles.

Pathway principles:

The Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative will operate the following principles of:

• Reconciliation,

• Respect,

• Inclusiveness and collaboration,

• Transparency,

• Innovation and creativity, and

• Evidence-based decision making, grounded in science and traditional knowledge.

Background

In 2010, a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity was adopted at the Conference of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This plan includes 20 global biodiversity targets, known as the Aichi Targets, which each party to the convention has agreed to contribute to achieving by the year 2020. Canada, the European Community and the other 195 parties in this global plan were encouraged to develop their own national targets using the Aichi Targets as a guide.

In response, in 2015, Canada adopted a suite of national targets known as the “2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada”. These four goals and 19 targets cover issues ranging from species at risk to sustainable forestry to connecting Canadians to nature.

The Pathway initiative focuses on the terrestrial and inland waters aspects of Canada Target 1, based on Aichi Target 11.

On April 11, 2016, federal, provincial, and territorial deputy ministers for parks agreed to establish a working group to develop a plan to outline how jurisdictions can contribute to achieving Canada Target 1. Broad guidance, in the form of the One with Nature report, will continue to be supplemented by recommended best practices and indicators for measuring progress towards protecting Canada's biodiversity.

On June 28, 2018, federal, provincial, and territorial ministers for parks committed to:

• “continue to work together to safeguard Canada's biodiversity by improving our network of protected and conserved areas;”

• “work with Indigenous Peoples to further elaborate the concept of Indigenous protected and conserved areas, and clarify their contributions to Canada Target 1 and to Indigenous cultural and conservation priorities. We will work in the spirit and practice of reconciliation, consistent with legal duties and mutual commitments in treaties, land claim and self-government agreements, and other agreements as required;”

• “share with each other our respective jurisdictional plans for protected and conserved areas by the end of 2018 and commit to reconvene in the spring of 2019 to discuss our collective progress and any further measures that may be needed to reach Canada's 2020 target.

The solutions associated with achieving Canada Target 1 will only be found through collaboration and collective action. In addition, many governmental departments, Indigenous peoples, communities, municipalities, private and non-profit sectors across Canada will have a significant interest and stake in the outputs from this process. During the process of developing the One with Nature report, an Indigenous Circle of Experts and a National Advisory Panel were formed and approval from all relevant government departments was sought.