Our vision is to keep at least half of Canada's public land and water wild — forever. We focus on protecting many important areas of Canada's wilderness. Find out about the issues we work on below, or click on a link to the right to more about where we work.
Issues | |
|---|---|
 |
WildlifeWe focus on protecting large tracts of land, oceans and great freshwater lakes so species like grizzlies, woodland caribou and wolverine have room to roam, and whales and fish can thrive.
|
 |
Parks
Canada has one of the oldest and most extensive parks systems in the world. CPAWS advocates for new parks and acts as a watchdog to ensure that existing ones are well-managed. With pressures on our wilderness growing, creating more parks and ensuring existing ones are well-funded and protected is more important than ever.
|
 |
ForestsFrom the vast northern Boreal forest to the temperate forests stretching across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, Canada is home to some of the largest unbroken tracts of forest on the planet. CPAWS’ goal is to conserve at least half of our Boreal forests, and to create a network of large conservation areas within the temperate Eastern Woodlands of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.
|
 |
OceansCanada has the longest coastline in the world, and a marine area that is half the size of our country. But our marine ecosystems tend to be out of sight and out of mind, and they are in serious trouble.
|
Current campaigns | |
|---|---|
Thaidene Nene: Protecting the East Arm of Great Slave Lake |
CPAWS is supporting creation of a huge new protected area by the local Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation and Parks Canada around and beyond the shores of East Arm of Great Slave Lake, called Thaidene Nene, meaning “the Land of the Ancestors” in Denesuline. |
Protect the Yukon’s Peel watershed |
The Yukon’s Peel River watershed is one of the largest and most beautiful intact natural areas left in North America. Mining and oil and gas extraction threaten to fragment this stunning landscape and harm its delicate ecological balance. |
Join the call for protecting Canada’s oceans! |
While Canada boasts one of the largest ocean territories in the world, less than 1% of it is protected through meaningful long-term conservation measures. The federal government has committed to establishing networks of marine protected areas covering at least 10% of our oceans by 2020. Progress by all of our governments on creating new marine protected areas needs to speed up if we are going to meet that commitment. |
Protect Canada’s Species at Risk! |
According to COSEWIC, the scientific body that identifies and advises the federal government on species at risk, there are 650 species listed at risk of extinction in Canada, and the list continues to grow each year. As threats to our environment grow, we need stronger, not weaker, laws to protect the plants and animals that are struggling to survive across Canada. However, CPAWS is concerned that protection for species at risk is getting weaker. |
Implementing the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement |
CPAWS is playing a lead role across Canada in implementing this ambitious agreement signed by environmental groups and forestry companies in 2010 to conserve caribou habitat within 72 million hectares of Boreal forest. |
Celebrate the expansion of the world-famous Nahanni! |
In 2009, the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of Canada announced the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve. CPAWS has a long history working with the Dehcho First Nations and thousands of Canadians to expand this world-renowned park reserve, which is now six times the size of the original one established in 1972. It will permanently protect almost 40,000 sq kms of Boreal wilderness - an area the size of Vancouver Island. |
Keep the Restigouche Wild |
The Restigouche is a land of misty mountains, sparkling wild rivers and majestic forests. Where wild Atlantic salmon still leap over deep, dark pools. Where elusive Canada lynx roam. An internationally-renowned paradise for anglers, paddlers, hikers and tourists. |
Caribou and you |
When the caribou’s in danger, you are too. By saving the woodland caribou's remaining Boreal Forest habitat, we'll also help protect one of the world's largest natural carbon reserves and slow the effects of climate change. |
Keep the Flathead Wild |
The Flathead Valley, in southeastern British Columbia, is one of the most biologically important places on earth. Despite its relatively untouched state and the mining and oil and gas development ban announced by the B.C. government in February 2010, this area – and the species found here – are still urgently in need of permanent protection. |
Create a park in the South Okanagan-Similkameen |
At the bottom of soggy, lush British Columbia, there exists a strange world full of desert snakes, prickly sagebrush, Bighorn sheep and birds that dare to nest on grass. This South Okanagan-Similkameen area of B.C. remains desert-like, born of very warm summers and little rainfall. But the Okanagan is disappearing fast, snapped up by humans wanting wineries, retirement homes and urban conveniences. As a result, a third of British Columbia's species at risk now must cling to this vanishing landscape. Protection is urgent. |
Enter your e-mail address here to get CPAWS news and actions delivered right to your inbox.
CPAWS works across Canada. Find out more about why what we're doing in these major areas:
Want to help? Here are some things you can do.
Here are some of the recent conservation gains you've helped us make.