Canada’s Land Trusts Applaud Federal Nature Announcement of $3.8 Billion
Pictured above: On March 23 the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts (ACLT) led Provincial Alliances, including the Land Trust Alliance of BC, and land trust representatives in a meeting with The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Facilitated by ACLT Executive Director, Renata Woodward, the meeting outlined several key issues:
- Continuation of the Nature Heritage Conservation Program
- Exploration of a Conservation Endowment Program
- Enhancement to the Ecological Gift Program
Minister Dabrusin acknowledged the work of Canada’s local and regional land trusts particularly the importance of protecting spaces in or near urban spaces where Canadians live.
Canada’s Land Trusts Applaud Federal Nature Announcement of $3.8 Billion
“Today’s announcement signals important federal leadership at a critical moment for nature in Canada. We welcome this step and the recognition that protecting biodiversity requires both ambition and coordinated action across the country,”
– Paul McNair, Executive Director, Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia.
Land Trust Alliances in QC, ON and BC join the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts pledging a commitment to leverage federal funding for local conservation projects
Victoria, B.C. – Canada’s four land trust alliances – led by the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts – today welcomed the federal government’s anticipated funding announcement of $3.8 Billion on nature. 43% of this funding (1.63M) has been dedicated to advance conservation, stewardship and partnerships, including the Canada Nature Protection Fund.
Since 2018, local and regional land trusts have delivered over 200 projects valued at more than $200 million, leveraging nearly five dollars for every dollar in federal funding. Across the country, land trusts protect more than 255 000 hectares of ecologically significant land near communities.
“We are encouraged to see a clear strategy paired with funding in this announcement,” said Renata Woodward, Executive Director of the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts. “Land trusts across the country are ready to act immediately. This investment enables us to conserve high-priority lands, work with willing landowners, and deliver lasting conservation results at the scale and speed this moment demands.”
“We look forward to working with the federal government as details are finalized, and to ensuring that programs are designed to maximize conservation impact, transparency, and long-term success,” added Woodward.
Achieving Canada’s nature commitments, including its 2030 targets, will require coordinated action across jurisdictions and sectors. Land trusts contribute to this effort by conserving and stewarding private lands, restoring ecosystems, and supporting long-term conservation outcomes with communities.
The alliances emphasized that sustained and predictable investment will be essential to translate federal ambition into measurable conservation gains. Previous federal programs have demonstrated how conservation partnerships can accelerate the pace of land conservation.
The National and Provincial alliances represent a nationwide network of 150 local and regional land trusts working with private landowners, Indigenous partners, and communities to conserve ecologically significant lands. The alliances and land trusts have been actively advocating for the renewal of federal conservation funding and programming alongside other environmental organizations, recognizing the urgent need for sustained investment to meet Canada’s biodiversity goals.
Read the Government of Canada’s full report A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature HERE.
