Launch of Indigenous Circle of Experts Report in Canada: We Rise Together

First published on 03/28/2018, and last updated on 09/16/2020

Indigenous Circle of Experts’ report and recommendations (march 2018) “We rise together, Achieving Pathway to Canada Target 1 through the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in the spirit and practice of reconciliation“, © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada

The Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) has just released a historical report on achieving Pathway to Canada Target 1 through the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in the spirit and practice of reconciliation. The report discusses the progress made since Canada’s adoption of 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 presented in ceremony to federal Minister Catherine McKenna and Alberta Minister Shannon Phillips, and will then be released publicly.

This is not all as the Pathway to Canada Target 1 (Aichi Target 11 CBD) has gathered a lot of momentum over the past year. On February 27th 2018 the Federal government announced a $1.3 billion dollar commitment in the 2018 Budget over the next five years, to fulfilling the 17% protection component of Aichi Target 1, under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. This investment is crucial as a great part of it will be dedicating to supporting Indigenous governments in their conservation efforts. It embodies an important contribution to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Read more on this initiative in this article.

Also, a 31-min news interview with Eli Enns – Regional Coordinator, North America & ICE Co-Chair can be found HERE.

Additional ICE resources are available HERE.