How You Can Take Action

1. Meet your MLA – one of the BEST ways to ensure they know you support an issue. MLAs receive numerous phone calls and emails every day and yours may get lost in the mix. Having a face-to-face conversation shows your commitment and signals to the MLA that this is something to take seriously. It also allows them to associate you or your group with the issue and may open the door for you to provide them with more info or support in the future.
2. Make a call to your MLA – one of the BETTER ways to get your message heard. Next to having a face-to-face meeting, calling ensures your letter or email is not lost in the mix. Calling lets your MLA know that you are concerned about an issue and want them to take action. It doesn’t have to be a long call, keeping it simple is key.
3. Write a letter to your MLA – a GREAT way to show your support for a local issue that concerns you, especially if many people are writing in about the same thing. Sending a letter by mail or e-mail ensures your MLA knows you take the matter seriously. Be sure to personalize your letter as it will get more attention than just sending a template.
4. Sign a petition – a GOOD way to take action for an issue you care about. It is an easy and quick action to perform. It can signal to the government that a lot of people are concerned about an issue. ***There is an official process that must be followed to get a petition submitted to government so it can be recognized. Check out how you can submit federal or provincial traditional or e-petitions.

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Feeling Inspired? Head over to the TAKE ACTION section of our website to see what actions you can take right now to make a difference for nature conservation!

Be sure to follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter) so you can be notified of future actions to protect nature in New Brunswick.

Governments usually only hear from the public when they would like something changed, fixed, or accomplished. It’s also important to tell the government when you appreciate the work they have done. This lets them know that they are on the right track and can encourage them to keep pushing for change.

Personal Ways You Can Take Action

When it comes to conserving the natural world, everyone has a role to play. Below are some other ways that you can take action and speak up for nature:

1. Volunteer – a great way to put time and effort into a cause you care about. It can be as involved as you want it to be and you can spend as little or as much time as you would like. Be sure to check out who is accepting volunteers in your community. There may also be opportunities to volunteer with organizations outside your community through online options. CPAWS NB is grateful for all the volunteers that help us to advance nature protection in New Brunswick. If you want to help with our nature conservation activities, check out our volunteer opportunities to see what is available.

2. Donate – an important way to help with an issue you care about, especially if you can’t volunteer or want to help more than one organization. Many organizations rely on donations to help fund their work. Donating ensures organizations can continue doing the work you care about. To support nature protection in New Brunswick you can donate to CPAWS NB. Your donation will help us speak out to protect nature on land and sea, in areas like the Restigouche Wilderness, the Chignecto Isthmus, the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

3. Lifestyle Changes – small changes in your daily life to help the environment, such as practicing the 5 steps to Watch Your Paws when outdoors, walking more to cut back on energy consumption, or reducing the amount of new goods you buy (so resources don’t need to be mined or industrially harvested to make more stuff). These may seem like small steps, but are important to shift our society to be more nature and climate friendly. Actions you take personally help normalize new behaviours for your friends, family, and neighbours. They can also be done alongside advocating for systems change.

4. Keep Learning – it is important to seek ways to help educate yourself on various issues. It can also help you brush up on skills or allow you to try something new. There are many organizations, online communities or local libraries that will have resources available to help you on your learning journey. Take some time to learn about wildlife connectivity, climate change, and terrestrial and marine protected areas to understand why and how we need to protect nature in New Brunswick.

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How You Can Engage Others

Pushing for change cannot be done alone. Governments are more likely to listen to a larger group of people than just one person. Here are ways to engage others in speaking up for nature:

1. Share Resources – a useful way to show and build support for an issue you care about. It can also help you feel more confident about what you believe in. From the Restigouche River to the Chignecto Isthmus, CPAWS NB is involved in many areas of the province pushing for nature protection. Check out our work to see what resources and information you may want to share with others. ***Always do your research to ensure your sources are credible and give credit to the creators.

2. Talk to Family and Friends – never underestimate the power of simple conversation. Talking about issues you care about is a great way to engage others and help them to understand why it is important to take action. This can also be a good opportunity to share resources. Here are some fact sheets that can help get you started talking about nature protection in New Brunswick:
   1. Restigouche Ecotourism and Conservation Opportunities
   2. Rivers, Wetlands and Climate Change
   3. NB Communities in a Changing Climate
   4. Forests and Climate Change
   5. The Chignecto Isthmus: Keeping It Connected

3. Social Media – posting on social media is another way to share a message. There is a wide audience, and many people use platforms such as Tik Tok, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to share information. Tagging someone ensures they will be notified that you mentioned them in a post. Posts are also easily sharable by others, making it easier to spread awareness and build support. See what CPAWS NB is up to on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

–Download a poster of this information to help you remember or to share with others– 

Be sure to share with others all the ways they can take action, so they can also help protect nature in New Brunswick!