Canada's Nature Agreement underscores the need for true reconciliation with Indigenous nations
- Media Manager
- Jan 5, 2024
- 1 min read
Phys.org
Written By: Justine Townsend and Robin J. Roth, The Conversation
Published: January 5th, 2024
In late 2023, the federal government, British Columbia and the First Nations Leadership Council signed a $1 billion Nature Agreement to protect 30% of B.C.'s lands by 2030.
The agreement stressed the full collaboration of Indigenous Peoples in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Nature Agreement follows a series of historic federal investments in nature conservation over the past several years. Like the previous announcements, the 2023 Nature Agreement includes funding for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, or IPCAs.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault stated about the agreement, "I think people will look at this agreement and say, 'OK, this is how it needs to be done going forward now in Canada'… It's nature, it's conservation, it's restoration, but it's also about reconciliation."
