About
Nature United is working toward a Canada where people and nature thrive together. As the Canadian affiliate of the world’s largest conservation organization, we believe nature is the foundation of healthy communities, sustainable economies and flourishing ecosystems.
In all of our work, we put Indigenous rights and authority at the heart of conservation, creating new pathways for reconciliation and investing in leadership and community well-being. Our work in Canada began 10 years ago when our global affiliate was invited by local partners to join an effort to conserve the Great Bear Rainforest. That community-led collaboration resulted in the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement, which conserves 19 million acres including 5 million acres off-limits to logging and the balance managed under stringent harvest guidelines.
Our work at Nature United is informed by the best global science and supported by the leadership of the world’s largest conservation organization. Headquartered in Toronto, the organization has field staff located across the country. We support Indigenous leadership, sustainable economic development, and large-scale conservation, primarily in the Great Bear Rainforest, Clayoquot Sound, the Northwest Territories, and northern Manitoba.
Our Impact
This is the time to accelerate climate action, work in partnership with Indigenous peoples to advance their conservation visions and protect globally-significant lands and waters that people and wildlife depend on. Done right, nature can create jobs and support local economies. It can also be a force for greater social equity. This is Nature United’s unique approach. By listening to partners and working together to embed conservation into the fabric of stronger, more resilient, and inclusive local economies, we ensure those solutions last.
Building on three decades of conservation in Canada, we focus on long-term and high-impact projects. For example:
- Invest in Indigenous-led conservation: Honouring the vision of Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Nature United helped establish a $30M trust that will steward Thaidene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area into the future.
- Tackle climate change: A groundbreaking study led by Nature United, shows that Natural Climate Solutions can help Canada mitigate 78 Mt CO2e annually in 2030, an amount equal to the current greenhouse gas emissions from powering every home in Canada for about three years.
- Strengthen resilient communities: With direction from partner Nations and regional organizations, we support resilient Indigenous Guardians programs across Canada.
