Indigenous-led conservation is central to A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature. Indigenous Peoples have stewarded the lands, waters and ice across Canada since time immemorial. Across the country, Indigenous-led conservation is achieving results for nature, contributing some of the largest conservation gains. There is no path to 30X30 without Indigenous leadership and the Government of Canada is committed to working alongside Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous-led conservation is and will continue to be foundational to our collective effort to protect and conserve nature.

This side-event will feature examples of Indigenous-led conservation initiatives and programs. It will highlight Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) that contribute towards Canada’s 30x30 conservation targets and Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), and that have other positive co-benefits such as increasing connectivity, climate change adaptation and mitigation, habitats for species at risk, and transfer of knowledge between Elders and youth. The side-event will showcase innovative partnerships and programs, such as Indigenous Guardians and Project Finance for Permanence, that bring together Indigenous governments and organizations, the Government of Canada, provincial governments, and philanthropic partners, to advance Indigenous-led conservation. Parties, partners and CBD stakeholders interested in Indigenous-led conservation will benefit from lessons learned in the Canadian experience.