Over 12,000 hectares of protected areas in southern Ontario – about the size of Bruce Peninsula National Park – have been officially accepted into the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD). Spearheaded by three municipalities and one conservation authority, the inclusion of these lands marks an important step towards achieving Canada’s commitment to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030, otherwise known as the 30×30 target.
The 30×30 target is just one of the twenty-three targets that make up the Global Biodiversity Framework, which was ratified by nearly 200 countries – including Canada – at the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The 30×30 target emphasizes the need for ecological representation, connectivity and equitable governance of protected areas which recognizes and respects the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples and communities. It represents a key pathway to halting and reversing the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Eramosa River Park, Guelph © Jock Rutherford CC BY-SA 2.0
Meeting the 30×30 Target
To ensure that sites are eligible for inclusion in CPCAD, they must be assessed to ensure they meet the pan-Canadian standard for protected areas.
The criteria include:
Long-term and year-round protection
Effective means to control all activities likely to negatively impact biodiversity
Management that delivers conservation outcomes
Once it is determined that sites meet the standard, they are classified as either 1) protected areas or 2) Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM). The difference between the two can be seen in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Protected Area and OECM distinguished by primary management objective.
Local governments and conservation organizations in southern Ontario play a critical role in protecting natural areas, which are often close to or even nestled within dense urban centers. They juggle multiple competing objectives while planning for growth and balancing the increasing need to safeguard the natural environment for future generations.
The following municipalities and conservation authority deserve to be celebrated for implementing strong management policies and on-the-ground conservation efforts to protect biodiversity in their regions:
City of Brampton
City of Guelph
Dufferin County
Quinte Conservation Authority
These near-urban protected areas are vital habitats, corridors, and rest-stops for wildlife, including species at risk. They also help mitigate flood risks, reduce heat island effects in urban areas and enhance climate resilience while providing important access to nature.
Quinte Conservation Area, Belleville © Robert Taylor CC BY-SA 2.0
Ontario still has a long way to go to achieve 30×30, as less than 11 percent of our lands and waters are recognized as protected. To meet this target, it will take all hands-on deck. Subnational governments, land trusts, conservation authorities, and community stewardship groups have an important role to play in meeting the target. This includes having sites assessed to determine whether they already meet the criteria.
Ontario Nature will continue to partner with local leaders to conduct assessments of protected and conserved areas.
Municipal Protected Areas Project
To support local and municipal biodiversity conservation at broader scales, Ontario Nature is part of the Municipal Protected Areas Project, a national initiative funded in part by the Government of Canada. Partners include Nature Canada, the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts, BC Nature, and Wildlands League. The coalition works across southern Canada to support the protection of near urban nature by sharing wise practices and policies, encouraging local partnerships and addressing barriers to conservation.
Resources
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