Canada is working against the clock to achieve its target of safeguarding 30 percent of its lands and oceans by 2030, a goal that is double the current level of protection. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently unveiled a new nature strategy that emphasizes leveraging private sector investments in conservation and recognizing “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs), which are conservation efforts led by local communities and private entities.
These innovative approaches aim to enhance conservation efforts in Canada and alleviate the burden on the government by fostering collaboration with external stakeholders. However, experts caution that the effectiveness of OECMs must be carefully monitored to ensure they provide the necessary protection for ecosystems to flourish.
OECMs are utilized by smaller municipal governments and Indigenous communities to secure recognition for conservation projects that may not align with traditional protected areas like provincial parks. These initiatives, which range from safeguarding city water sources to preserving hunting grounds for Indigenous groups, play a crucial role in conservation efforts.
While OECMs offer a valuable opportunity for local communities to showcase their conservation achievements, concerns have been raised about their potential shortcomings. Critics argue that some OECMs, particularly in British Columbia, have allowed industrial activities like logging, raising questions about their true conservation impact.
In a bid to bolster conservation financing, Carney announced the formation of a task force on natural capital accounting and nature financing to attract private investments in protected areas. While the specifics of this initiative remain unclear, similar models have been successful in Canada, such as the protection of the Great Bear Sea.
Despite the push for private funding, some environmental advocates are skeptical of this approach, arguing that it may shift power away from affected communities and towards industries that contribute to environmental degradation. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing nature protection to combat biodiversity loss rather than solely focusing on meeting numerical targets.