A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature

Canada’s new Nature Strategy, released today by Prime Minister Mark Carney, sets out the federal government’s national vision and approach to protecting, restoring, and valuing nature. Backed by approximately $3.8 billion, the strategy aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss while integrating conservation into economic policy and development planning. It positions nature protection as foundational to public well-being, climate resilience, global competitiveness, and national sovereignty.

Quick Facts

• $3.8 billion federal investment: The strategy commits roughly $3.8B to nature protection, marking one of Canada’s largest biodiversity funding packages to date.
• “30 by 30” conservation target: Canada will increase protected land from ~14% to 30% and marine areas from ~15% toward 30% by 2030, aligning with global biodiversity commitments.
• Massive expansion of protected areas: The plan includes funding for:
  • up to 10 new national parks
  • 10 national marine conservation areas
  • 14 marine protected areas
  • 15 urban parks
• Large-scale land and ocean protection: Over the next four years, the strategy aims to protect at least 1.6 million km² of land and up to 700,000 km² of ocean.
• Indigenous-led conservation central to delivery: The strategy prioritizes Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and co-management, positioning Indigenous stewardship as a core implementation mechanism.
• Nature as economic infrastructure: A key new element is integrating conservation into economic policy - mobilizing private investment and treating natural assets as infrastructure that supports climate resilience, growth, and public well-being.

Click here to read our full analysis to explore how Canada's new Nature Strategy may shape regulatory priorities, conservation funding, and project planning across sectors.