Why I Support the Nature Conservancy of Canada

At Fierce Lynx Designs, I create unique jewelry featuring natural gemstones and minerals, inspired both by my global travels and my home, New Brunswick, Canada. To help preserve the natural beauty of our planet and its valuable resources, I donate 10 percent of my profits to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

While many Canadians have likely heard of the organization, I understand that my international customers might not be familiar with what the Nature Conservancy of Canada is and the incredible work they do. So, I thought it would be a great idea to share a bit about this fantastic organization.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada

The primary mission of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is to protect and preserve lands and waters that sustain life throughout Canada. Founded more than 55 years ago, the NCC works to maintain the landscape and ensure biodiversity, both of which are critical for keeping a region’s environment thriving.

Since 1962, the NCC has been doing more than just advocating for the protection of Canada’s wilderness and wildlife. The organization embraces science-backed approaches that protect Canada’s natural lands and waterways, preserving native plant and animal life across all ten of Canada’s provinces. Additionally, the NCC supports conservation by purchasing land that will remain undeveloped, ensuring the ecosystem remains undisturbed and in its natural state.

The NCC also works to restore lands throughout the country. This includes removing invasive weeds, mapping the location of various rare species to ensure they aren’t disturbed and given a chance to flourish, and purchasing land that has habitats that need greater levels of protection to support biodiversity and local species.

At the NCC, they use evidence-based decision-making to steer their efforts. The organization’s goal is to respect nature’s process while limiting the impact of people, giving plants and animals the safeguarding they need. Over the long-term, the NCC aims to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of a biologically diverse and rich world by managing lands and waters in a way that benefits every living thing on the planet.

Conservation: What It Is and Why It’s So Important

Conservation isn’t just about advocacy. Instead, it involves more active steps, including the protection and restoration of critical habitats that support Canada’s native plant and animal species. The NCC’s goal is to ensure biodiversity by documenting rare species and conducting research that can help all native plants and animals to flourish.

While many would assume that the NCC’s efforts only benefit Canada, that isn’t the case. Canada’s boreal forest is critical for the planet. The trees help regulate the climate, purify the air, and keep natural waterways clean. The impact of Canada’s boreal forest is global, affecting the health of the environment all across the world.

Canada is also home to a massive supply of freshwater. Through conversation efforts, the freshwater sources throughout the country can be preserved and restored, which is beneficial to the entire planet.

There are also ice caps in Canada. Conservation efforts help ensure the health of those regions as well, and may even slow the melting of glaciers. Since the ice affects sea levels and temperatures all around the planet, preserving the icecaps is something that has a global impact.

Recent Nature Conservancy of Canada Projects

The NCC has a presence in all ten Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan). Across the country, the NCC is protecting 35 million acres comprised of a variety of ecosystems, plants, and animals.

Each of the conversation projects focuses on a single area or goal. Some are land purchases that ensure the area is protected and properly restored or preserved. Others focus on a specific plant or animal, such as a rare species that may otherwise end up extinct.

Here is a look at a few of the NCC’s recent projects:

Tabusintac Lagoon and Estuary

A 15-kilometre stretch of land along the coast of the Acadian Penisula in New Brunswick has been turned into a safe haven. The area is a critical breeding habitat for piping plovers, an endangered bird species. Plus, a variety of other waterfowl call the area home, and the beach barrier also helps protect the surrounding areas from harsh storms.

Hole in the Wall

The NCC’s Hole in the Wall property is a rich and diverse habitat for a variety of species. Throughout the native grasslands, burrowing owls, American badgers, northern leopard frogs, and ferruginous hawks all make their homes. 183 acres are protected by the NCC thanks to this project.

Van Brunt’s Jacob’s Ladder

The Van Brunt’s Jacob’s Ladder – a delicate flowering plant with purple, bell-like flowers – was initially thought to be extinct in New Brunswick. Then, it was rediscovered in 2005.

One of the NCC’s projects focuses on safeguarding the Van Brunt’s Jacob’s Ladder, including by educating private landowners who have the flowers on their properties and tracking locations where this rare species is located.

Black Ash Nature Reserve

As the name suggests, the Black Ash Nature Reserve provides a habitat for the vulnerable black ash tree. Through the NCC’s conservation efforts, research is identifying mechanisms that can keep the trees healthy and ensure their survival.

Fundy Isles

The Fundy Isles in New Brunswick is one of the few remaining island clusters in Atlantic Canada that is entirely undeveloped. The NCC acquired the land in 1999, ensuring that this important region, which serves as a nursing ground for whales and the home to endangered bald eagles and threatened peregrine falcons, remains untouched.

Mirachichi Salmon

Known as the site of the largest Atlantic salmon run in North America, the Miramichi Watershed and surrounding area is also a critical habitat for a variety of fish species, large mammals (like moose and black bears), beavers, and a variety of waterfowl. Throughout the nearby forests and wetlands, wood turtles, Canada warblers, and Olive-sided fly-catchers – all rare or at-risk species – are also found. The NCC is working on a conversation plan for the region, ensuring future land protection efforts will be effective.