Nature Questions for Federal Candidates
New Brunswick’s leading conservation groups are asking candidates what they will do to protect NB’s nature and act on climate change if they are elected in Canada’s federal election on September 20th.
In the open letter, Nature NB, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society—NB Chapter, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and the Nature Trust of New Brunswick are asking candidates to define how they will meet the international and national land conservation targets of 25 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030, respectively.
The groups say that protecting, restoring, and stewarding land and ocean to flourish reduces the risks and impacts from extreme climatic events, curbs species and biodiversity decline, and promotes healthy communities for Canadians.
The federal government has committed to the largest nature conservation target in Canadian history; however, without investments in funding to steward these protected areas, we will not reach these targets or effectively conserve nature for the long-term. In New Brunswick, with one of the country’s lowest protected area rates at 4.7 per cent, providing additional support to ensure the province reaches its current goal of 10 per cent protection, as well as removing any barriers to establishing and stewarding new protected land and ocean, is vital.
The groups’ questionnaire asks candidates what they will do to invest in Indigenous-led nature planning in New Brunswick, including the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and their stewardship by Indigenous Guardians, Indigenous-led efforts to restore and steward species at risk and habitat, and recognize and respect Indigenous knowledge in all aspects of nature conservation.
Given that privately-owned protected land can increase connectivity between habitats and when combined with provincial and federal protected areas, are critical for expanding the landscape that is managed for ecosystem resilience especially under climate change, the groups also asked candidates what they would do to empower and incentivize New Brunswick landowners to become involved in advocating and managing for conservation and protected areas as a part of community climate response.
Access the open letter to candidates and federal party leaders here.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Who we are:
Roberta Clowater, Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NB Chapter: rclowater@cpaws.org; 506-452-9902
Lois Corbett, Executive Director, Conservation Council of New Brunswick: lois.corbett@conservationcouncil.ca; 506-238-5292
Vanessa Roy-McDougall, Executive Director, Nature NB: executive.director@naturenb.ca; 506-459-4209
Stephanie Merrill, Chief Executive Officer, Nature Trust of New Brunswick: stephanie.merrill@ntnb.org; 506-457-2398
The responses so far:
Jason Hickey, NB Southwest, Liberal
Brandon Kirby, Fredericton, Libertarian
