Photo: Bylot Island, Christian Marcotte
In response to a report published this week by the Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) that proposes a new form of Indigenous-led conservation and advises how Canada can achieve its global biodiversity commitments from an Indigenous perspective, Greenpeace Canada Executive Director Joanna Kerr responded:
“This groundbreaking report places conservation decision-making in the rightful hands of those Indigenous governments and the people they serve. By addressing how Canada can meet its biodiversity targets while calling for reconciliation in many existing parks and protected areas that were created without the consent of Indigenous Peoples, this report is nothing short of a paradigm shift for Canada. We encourage the federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as our fellow environmental organizations, foundations and other partners to embrace the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas as recommended in this expert report.”
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. Canada Target 1 states: “By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.” It was widely understood that Canada Target 1 could only be achieved through collaboration amongst government departments, communities, municipalities, Indigenous Peoples and others. To this end, a National Advisory Panel and an Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) were formed to provide advice and recommendations on achieving Canada Target 1. ICE is comprised of Indigenous and non-Indigenous citizens of Canada who have worked together to make progress on Pathway to Canada Target 1.
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For more information:
Marie Moucarry, Communications Officer at Greenpeace Canada, 438-993-6127,
marie.moucarry [at] greenpeace [dot] org
