Prime Minister Carney launches $3.8B nature strategy to protect Canada’s environment

The plan, titled A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature, outlines a national approach to safeguarding land, water, and wildlife while aligning conservation efforts with economic development and infrastructure planning.

The announcement comes as Canada faces growing environmental pressures, including climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, and increasingly severe wildfires and flooding.

A national push toward 30% conservation targets

At the core of the strategy is Canada’s commitment to protect 30% of its lands and waters by 2030, a target first agreed upon during the United Nations Biodiversity Conference held in Montréal in 2022.

Under the new plan, the federal government will:

• Establish up to 14 new marine protected areas
• Create at least 10 new national parks and freshwater conservation areas
• Develop up to 15 new national urban parks
• Protect approximately 1.6 million km² of land and up to 700,000 km² of ocean

These measures aim to significantly expand Canada’s conservation footprint, increasing terrestrial protection from 14% to 30% and marine protection from over 15% toward the same target.

We have a responsibility to protect Canada’s extraordinary natural heritage – from our lakes and forests to our mountains and coastlines.

Our new Nature Strategy will protect up to 2.4 million km² of our lands and oceans — and mobilise new capital for sustained conservation… pic.twitter.com/OuJnCPGNBk

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) March 31, 2026

Indigenous-led conservation at the centre

A major component of the strategy focuses on Indigenous leadership in conservation.

The government is investing over $230 million to expand the Indigenous Guardians Program, including the creation of a new Arctic Indigenous Guardians initiative. The program is designed to support land stewardship, environmental monitoring, and conservation leadership within Indigenous communities.

Additional investments include:

• $90 million for wood bison recovery efforts in Wood Buffalo National Park
• Support for the Wiinipaakw Indigenous Protected Area in Eastern James Bay
• Advancements in the Seal River Watershed National Park Reserve in Manitoba

Federal officials say these measures align conservation efforts with reconciliation and economic opportunity.

Integrating conservation with development

The strategy also introduces new tools to ensure that infrastructure and industrial development align with environmental priorities.

Key measures include:

• Advanced mapping and artificial intelligence tools to identify key biodiversity areas
• Regional environmental assessments under the Impact Assessment Act
• Use of mitigation frameworks to minimize environmental impacts

The federal government will also begin work on Canada’s first National Water Security Strategy, focused on protecting freshwater systems and ensuring reliable access to clean drinking water.

Major investments in ecosystem restoration

Significant funding is directed toward restoring vulnerable ecosystems, particularly aquatic habitats.

This includes:

• $410 million for Pacific salmon restoration
• Over $80 million for Atlantic salmon conservation
• Continued investment in removing “ghost gear” from oceans

Officials say these efforts will strengthen biodiversity while supporting sustainable fisheries and coastal economies.

Mobilising private investment in conservation

To support long-term environmental protection, the strategy introduces a new financial approach aimed at attracting private sector investment.

The federal government will establish an Expert Taskforce on Natural Capital Accounting and Nature Financing in 2026. The taskforce will explore how to assign economic value to natural ecosystems and develop policies that encourage investment in conservation.

Federal government positions conservation as economic priority

In announcing the strategy, Prime Minister Carney framed environmental protection as both a national responsibility and an economic opportunity.

“The beauty of Canada’s nature – from lakes and forests to mountains and coastlines – is central to our history, our identity, and our way of life. As Canadians, we have the responsibility to protect the lands and waters we have inherited.”

Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin added that conservation and economic growth must move forward together, noting that environmental protection is “central” to building Canada’s future.

A long-term national framework

Canada is home to approximately 20% of the world’s freshwater, 25% of its boreal forests, and one of the largest marine territories globally. The federal government says protecting these resources will require coordination across provinces, territories, Indigenous governments, and industry.

The strategy builds on existing agreements with provinces and Indigenous partners and is intended to guide Canada’s environmental policy for the coming decade.

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