OECMs are one of the keys to saving biodiversity
Wetland (Photo by NCC)
The conservation world is no stranger to acronyms. From global events like the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (or COP15), to how we reference areas where Indigenous-led conservation is at the forefront (Indigenous Protected and...
Conservation notes from another northern nation
Sparsely vegetated volcanic landscape east of Lake Myvatn, North Iceland, with geothermal steam in background (Photo by Paula Noel/NCC staff)
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel in Iceland this fall, a country that, despite its relatively mild climate, is situated further north than Iqaluit! Thanks to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream current, Iceland temperatures...
My nature love story (Reflections on the eve of COP15)
Megan at Global Youth Biodiversity Network’s Youth Summit (Photo by NCC)
As delegates from around the world gather for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, also known as COP15, there’s a lot happening in Montreal. I’m fortunate to be attending COP15...
Reciprocity in our relations
Group of Conservation Volunteers at the Red Deer Fence Pull event (Photo by NCC)
When we think about the relationships we have in our lives, it is easy to think about our family and friends. These are people who we can talk to and who we associate with love and happiness. When you think about the relationships in your life,...
Inspiring youth at COP15
Kenauk, Quebec @Kenauk Nature
The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP15 for short, is a two-week summit from December 7 to 19, 2022. Taking place in Montreal, delegations from governments, companies and...
Deep in a thousand-hectare woods: Protecting the magic of Happy Valley Forest
Aerial view of Happy Valley Forest, ON (Photo by Mike Dembeck)
One day it rained red in Happy Valley Forest, and I was there to see it. This was not the red rain of cast-off maple leaves in the fall. This rain painted the tree branches in the spring. And I have witnesses. This is how it went down. It was...
The Yarrow
Spread Eagle Mountain from The Yarrow (Photo by NCC)
As the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s natural area manager for the Waterton region in Alberta, I need to sometimes simply pinch myself and look around at the spellbinding landscapes that I work on. I started this role in May 2022. But I...
Everywhere and all-around: Fence mapping in Alberta
Beaver damming activity, Collins Property, AB. (Photo by NCC)
It was a dry and hot, mid-July day in Red Deer, Alberta. Ashleigh and I, Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) interns and participants in the Canadian Conservation Corps program, were heading to the Collins property. It was a wet spring, and the...
Recognition and Reconciliation: The pathway forward is Indigenous-led conservation
Sunset at Hay Bay, Ontario (Photo by Ethan Meleg)
Friday, September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is intended to provide an opportunity for people to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. This day has also been observed as Orange Shirt Day since...
SFI Conference Green Mentor Program sets the right example
For many mentees, the 2022 SFI/PLT Annual Conference wasn’t just a chance to meet their mentor in person, but to also hear them speak in conference sessions. (Photo by NCC)
In June 2022, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and its award-winning educational program Project Learning Tree (PLT) came together in Madison, Wisconsin, for a joint conference. The annual conference’s theme was...
