Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature - A Force of Nature

As a person who was born and lived in the USA all my life I've been blessed to be able to visit a number of our National Parks. I love the ones I've visited and think all of them hold tremendous value as our National Parks. I'm very sad to see how the current occupant of the white house is reducing our National Parks and opening them to mining and drilling - things which will destroy these amazing places. 

I am so happy to see my new country, Canada, looks at their magnificent National Parks in an entirely different way. Canada launched A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature on March 31, 2026, backed by a $3.8 billion investment. The plan targets protecting at least 1.6 million km² of land and up to 700,000 km² of oceans to meet the national goal of conserving 30% of lands and waters by 2030!

Three Core Pillars

Protecting Nature: Conserving more land and water, expanding national and urban parks, and supporting Indigenous-led conservation.
Building Canada Well: Designing infrastructure projects which work alongside natural ecosystems rather than disrupting them.
Valuing Nature and Mobilizing Capital: Using long-term sustainable finance tools and private sector partnerships to fund preservation. 

Key Targets and Actions

Land Conservation: Scale up terrestrial protection from 14% to 30% by 2030, adding 1.6 million km² over four years.
Ocean Protection: Raise marine conservation from 15% to 28% on the path to 30%, protecting up to 700,000 km² of oceans.
New Areas: Advance major sites including the Wiinipaakw Indigenous Protected Area in James Bay and the Seal River Watershed National Park.
Program Support: Expand the Indigenous Guardians Program and extend the Ghost Gear Fund to clear harmful fishing equipment from oceans.

Canada believes Nature is foundational to Canadian identity. Canada's forests, lakes, rivers, prairies, mountains, tundra, and oceans are part of who we are, strengthen sovereignty, support the economy and sustain life. The natural world energizes and grounds us, and spending time in nature strengthens well‑being, deepens our connection to place, and reinforces a shared sense of belonging.

Canada is one of the most nature-rich countries on earth, with 20 per cent of the world's fresh water, 25 per cent of global wetlands, nearly a quarter of the boreal forest, the world's longest coastline, and habitat for approximately 80,000 species. We envision a Canada which protects, restores, and values nature as a foundation of our economy, sovereignty, and well-being, leading at home and globally, to ensure healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and prosperity for present and future generations.

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. We are continuing to support and advance Indigenous-led stewardship through our new investments in nature, including enhancing Indigenous Guardians Programs and establishing a new Arctic Indigenous Guardians Program. 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.

I am SO happy to see how Canada truly values their land and history and are committed to protect it. I wish the USA did as well. You will find more information about Canada's Force of Nature at this link.