What personal action can I take to help protect wildlife?” It’s a question often posed by individuals concerned with biodiversity loss who are looking to have a positive impact on the natural world around them. Canadian Wildlife Federation suggests one simple way to have a real impact is to track biodiversity using the free iNaturalist app.
Anyone can become a valuable ally to scientists and environmental managers simply by putting your iNaturalist app to good use. Whether through use of a smartphone, tablet or camara, the goal with iNaturalist Canada is to record observations and sound recordings of all the wild flora and fauna you can find the next time you find yourself outdoors, whether
in the wilderness, urban spaces, or your own backyard. By recording and uploading those sightings into the iNaturalist.ca platform, you can turn your nature observations into important data that helps Canadian scientists track biodiversity across the country. So far Canadians have registered more than 13 million observations into the platform, creating an active database of biodiversity information than helps guide conservation efforts from coast to coast.
The more people that record their observations in iNaturalist.ca, the bigger impact we can have for Canada’s wildlife from coast to coast. Using the iNaturalist.ca platform, we can build a living record of wildlife in Canada that scientists and environmental managers can use to monitor changes in biodiversity. It can also
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be used by anyone hoping to learn more about Canada’s amazing natural history. iNaturalist.ca is a tool that makes it easy to learn. Image recognition software will instantly pro vide suggestions of what you just photographed, and it’s amazingly accurate. Observations are then reviewed by experts in the iNaturalist community to help confirm the identification. It’s a fun, educational, and easy way to become a “citizen scientist” while creating a “nature selfie” of Canada’s vital biodiversity. iNaturalist Canada is led by the Canadian Wildlife Federation along with Nature Serve Canada and Parks Canada.
to Protecting Nature? Teach Kids to Respect and Admire It
When young people participate in community engagement and conservation education, they develop a sense of responsibility for their environment. Developing this connection to nature will shape a young person’s actions and attitudes over time, nurturing their potential to become future leaders in conservation.
Quinte Conservation (QC) is a community-based environmental protection agency that works with residents to ensure that people and nature live harmoniously. Their vision is to advance watershed knowledge and collective actions to strengthen ecosystems.
“Everyday operations involve a range of activities focused on environmental conservation, education, and recreation,” says Lindsay Nash, Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator. “All our education programs are designed to engage youth through hands-on activities.”
Through Outdoor Programs and Watershed Work-
shops, youth are educated and inspired through nature — and they’ll share what they’ve learned with others.
Planting the seeds QC provides curriculum-based programming at their conservation areas. They maintain partnerships with school boards located in the QC watershed.
Participants learn about the past, too. “Educating today's youth about the historical significance of land use and its impact on watersheds is crucial for several reasons, especially in connection to stabilizing degraded watersheds,” Lindsay explains. “Historical context provides a deeper understanding of the importance of conservation and restoration efforts, instilling in them a sense of stewardship for the environment.”
In alignment with QC’s strategic plan and goal for 2030, their community engagement efforts teach kids how to protect and value the environment and empower future generations.
Fifty Years of Joy, Learning, and Conservation at the Toronto Zoo
A conversation with Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong on the zoo’s fiftieth birthday.
D.F. McCourt
The Toronto Zoo, home to over three thousand animals on a sprawling haven of natural outdoor environments and world-class pavilions, has been a top destination for families and animal lovers since it first opened in 1974. And, behind the scenes, the zoo is today also a research and conservation science powerhouse, a leader on the world stage in international efforts to understand, foster, and preserve the biodiversity that keeps planet Earth healthy and beautiful.
This year, the Toronto Zoo is honouring a half century of continual operation, evolution, and improvement with a full calendar of events celebrating the zoo’s special place in the hearts and memories of Torontonians, Canadians, and visitors from further afield. It is also a moment to recognize the impressive conservation work the Toronto Zoo is doing right now, in 2024, and into the future.
To mark the fiftieth birthday of this extraordinary institution, we sat down with Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong to talk about the zoo’s past, present, and future.
What are some of the biggest changes the Toronto Zoo has seen since it first opened, and how has the societal role of zoos changed over the last fifty years?
Dolf DeJong: Well, the zoo has certainly made some dramatic changes over the past half-century, but those iconic pavilions which were constructed in 1974 are still there. The 1.6 acre African pavilion, the Indo Malaya pavilion, the Americas, Australasia, these remain the cornerstone of the physical infrastructure.
We were ahead of our time in 1974, and we've continued to double down on learning, knowing better, evolving. We're seeing a maturation of our relationship with animals and their connection to the natural world. That's why we use a zoogeographic layout, where our animals are supported by plants and other animals they share wild communities with. We don’t have a collection plan, we have an Animal Lives With Purpose plan, in which we map the role each species in our care plays in terms of conservation, research, and education. It's just incredible to see how the site has evolved physically as our approach to care and guest experience has grown and matured.
We’ve also developed a world-class biobank, as well as a lot of technology to measure animal happiness and well-being. We’ve shifted our philosophy pretty dramatically.
It's just incredible to see how the site has evolved physically as our approach to care and guest experience has grown and matured.
Dolf DeJong CEO, Toronto Zoo
Can you tell me about some of the Toronto Zoo’s specific conservation efforts?
DeJong: There are only about 300 Vancouver Island Marmots left in the wild. They are Canada’s most endangered mammal.
The Toronto Zoo raises, rears, and releases animals back into this population to help ensure they have a viable future. We do the same with loggerhead shrikes, with Blanding’s turtles, with wood turtles, with black footed ferrets. The zoo’s role in using our amazing expertise to protect and restore populations of wild Canadian species is phenomenally important.
And, internationally, we collaborate with other accredited sites to manage and maintain wild populations of animals like the Sumatran orangutan, the lowland gorilla, and the red panda. We’ve recognized that it’s time to get away from the colonial conservation model where we just send a little bit of money to these places or send our staff to do the work. Instead, we are now making ten-year commitments to these conservation programs, building local capacity and creating sustainable jobs within the community to help these wild populations.
How has this ongoing evolution of the zoo’s vision changed the visitor experience, and what do you hope today’s guests take away from their visit to the Toronto Zoo?
DeJong: We absolutely love that the Toronto Zoo is a place where families come together and make memories that last a lifetime. We're proud of being a destination for a fun day out. But we also know our visitors are eager to learn. Having multigenerational learning opportunities, connecting people to things they don't know are happening, grounding this learning in original research and science, and doing that all together in our backyard is more important than ever as people become more and more disconnected from nature. We’re inviting people behind the scenes much more now. Our goal is to make the “hidden zoo” extinct. We have some phenomenal examples of that starting with our Wildlife Health Center, which opened around 2017, where you can come in and see a rattlesnake getting an ultrasound, a tiger getting a root canal, a hyena getting a hysterectomy, all on public display.
Looking ahead, how do you think the Toronto Zoo might change between now and its 100th birthday?
DeJong: We're going to continue moving towards programming and research to help wild species, all while connecting the people of Toronto, Durham, and beyond to those efforts. We will continue to be a safe space for having those uncomfortable discussions as we work to navigate change, a place to build ecological and environmental literacy. It’s a transition from place to purpose.
Along the way, we will move from being a guest-funded zoo with some conservation science programs, to being a community-funded conservation science organization that is also home to an amazing accredited zoo.
Whatever the future may hold, the Toronto Zoo will be here. Nature needs our help more than ever.
THE WILDER CANADA ACTION PLAN:
A Bold Vision for Biodiversity
The largest coordinated effort for species recovery in Canadian history.
One-third of the earth’s imperiled species teeter on the brink, desperately needing targeted interventions to ensure their very existence. In Canada, over 40 per cent of federally listed species-at-risk hang in the balance, awaiting species-specific conservation translocations to turn the tide. Responding to this urgent call, the Wilder Institute has devised the Wilder Canada Action Plan—a visionary 10-year biodiversity action strategy poised to redefine species conservation in our country.
Addressing urgent conservation needs
In an era of perilous imbalance between humanity and nature, the Wilder Institute and its partners stand as a beacon of hope, spearheading wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration. Canada needs a holistic approach integrating Indigenous knowledge, community perspectives, and Western science to create a wilder future. With a steadfast commitment to bring imperiled species back to where they belong and fostering collaborative partnerships, the Wilder Institute is reshaping the very fabric of conservation at home and abroad.
Dr. Gráinne McCabe, chief conservation officer at the Wilder Institute and a leading voice in conservation, highlights the importance of this ambitious endeavor: “It’s a ‘Made in Canada’ approach to conservation, blending public and private sector collaboration. If successful, it will be the largest coordinated species recovery effort in our nation’s history.”
Taking action for a wilder future
The Wilder Canada Action Plan, a proposed $300 million private-public partnership, focuses on targeted conservation translocations to safeguard Canada's endangered species. This involves relocating animals and plants, utilizing methods such as reintroduction, assisted colonization,
It’s All Hands on Deck to Reach Canada’s 2030 Conservation Goals
To achieve Canada’s 2030 goal of protecting 30 per cent of nationwide land, water, and marine areas, conservation must happen at every level.
Katherine Cappellacci
Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the most significant environmental threats that the planet is dealing with in real time. Now more than ever, there’s a great need for conservation to tackle these issues.
It can be difficult to digest the enormity of these threats without feeling overwhelmed. One approach is to scale down these big problems into digestible, nature-based climate solutions (NBCS), which tap into the power of nature to address climate change. These solutions include protecting and restoring natural areas like grasslands, wetlands, and forests. Not only do these efforts capture carbon and protect against climate change impacts, but they also counter biodiversity loss. NBCS allows nature lovers to help conserve and connect with their surrounding environment.
The 30x30 target
Since 2021, Nature Canada has provided NBCS organizations with toolkits, grants, a community of practice, and training for municipalities and groups. The charity knows that community engagement makes conservation organizations stronger. Working with other nature groups, the organization is advocating for the inclusion of measures to protect both marine and terrestrial areas in the National Biodiversity Strategy. This strategy is the federal government’s way of supporting Canada’s ambitious conservation goal, known as the 30x30 target. It’s a commitment to protecting 30 per cent of the country’s lands and waters by 2030. Along with the national strategy and its accompanying legislation, there’s a need for innovative conservation at every level – from Parliament Hill to one’s own backyard.
and reinforcing wild populations through conservation breeding and propagation.
Through collaboration among governments, Indigenous nations, NGOs, researchers, and landowners, the plan aims to restore robust populations of endangered wild life nationwide, addressing Canada's biodiversity challenges with tailored solu tions. This marks a significant stride towards achieving Canada’s conservation targets.
Making a difference — one species at a time
Endorsed by esteemed institutions like the IUCN, the plan aligns with Global Biodiversity Frameworks for comprehensive conservation. With over 30 years of experience, our proven track record of bolstering wild populations showcases scalable, evidence-based solutions rooted in community engage ment.
Beyond halting species loss, this plan addresses the widespread lack of capacity in complex conservation methods. A key focus will be on building capacity, fostering collaboration, and expanding participation by partnering with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members to bring non-traditional actors into the translocation sector. Success in conservation requires the active involvement of everyone, not just conservationists. We need a whole-of-society approach, this is what our plan will help to achieve.
Guiding conservation together
We recognize that reconciliation is a journey. The Wilder Canada Action Plan will continue to reflect our commitment to inclusive conservation approaches by incorporating diverse perspectives into our shared conservation efforts – because only together will we find successful solutions that benefit wildlife and people.
Preserving nature’s legacy
Under the sky, we are all one. Canada’s Wilder Institute envisions a world where the balance between wildlife and human life is restored. Together, we can ensure wildlife thrives, ecosystems flourish, and future generations inherit a world where we all belong.
One of Canada’s longest-standing conservation charities, Nature Canada has been working for 85 years to support conservation efforts in neighbourhoods, municipalities, and provinces. The organization also works with its partners and supporters to advocate for international agreements, such as the recent treaty to protect high seas biodiversity.
Uplifting local projects
It’s important to protect natural spaces everywhere, including urban areas. In fact, municipalities are home to some of the country’s most biodiverse regions, though only a select few are actively contributing to the 30x30 target. To change this, Nature Canada is campaigning with The Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts, BC Nature, Ontario Nature, and Wildlands League to encourage municipalities to create local protected areas.
Creating protected areas across the country is like weaving a community patchwork quilt. Everybody can contribute, and even small scraps of fabric count.
Municipalities play a key role in conservation efforts because they bring these broader concepts straight to their community members who want to protect the spaces they know and love. Individuals can help the country achieve its 30x30 target by raising awareness, writing letters to the government to uphold its promises, or getting involved in local work.
Along with protecting ecosystems, conservation is also about maintaining cultural connections to the land. That’s why Indigenous leadership is critical to protecting and restoring nature.
Write to the government
Canada needs a National Biodiversity Strategy that is informed by science and also Indigenous conservation. Nature Canada acknowledges the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples to the land and is working with numerous Indigenous partners, from the Cree Nations of James Bay to the Six Nations of the Grand River, and beyond.
“Creating protected areas across the country is like weaving a community patchwork quilt,” says Emily McMillan, Executive Director of Nature Canada. “Everybody can contribute, and even small scraps of fabric count.”
Northern leopard frog release, Wilder Institute
An endangered whooping crane, Wilder Institute
article was sponsored by Nature Canada.
This article was sponsored by Wilder Institute.
Emily McMillan Executive Director, Nature Canada
An endangered headstarted burrowing owl, Wilder Institute
