Federal government supports conservation of northern Ontario's taiga forests and peatlands, conserving an area 1.3 times the size of Toronto

TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2026 /CNW/ -- Nature is foundational to Canadian identity. Canada's forests, lakes, rivers, prairies, mountains, tundra, and oceans are part of who we are. They strengthen our sovereignty, support the economy, and sustain life. Canada is working hard with local, national, and international partners to conserve nature, strengthen climate resilience, and support healthy communities across Canada.

Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, and the Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature), announced the protection of more than 81,400 hectares of taiga forests and peatlands south of Kapuskasing, Ontario. The federal government will invest over $13 million in this project through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program. This amount is part of a total investment of $64 million from the federal government, the Government of Ontario, businesses, foundations, and private donors. Led by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the project protects a significant boreal landscape that stores carbon, supports biodiversity, and provides habitat for wildlife.

The protected area includes carbon-rich boreal forests and peatlands that currently store more than 30 million tonnes of carbon, the equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 34 million passenger vehicles. The project also supports habitat conservation for a variety of species, including species at risk such as the red-headed woodpecker and the bobolink. Through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, the Government of Canada is supporting the conservation of ecologically significant lands while advancing Canada's biodiversity objectives.

The Government of Canada is firmly committed to protecting 30% of Canada's lands and waters by 2030. Delivering on this commitment requires collective action and sustained investment from all levels of government, Indigenous peoples, conservation organizations, the private sector, and others. Working with partners like the Natural Heritage Conservation Program on projects such as the taiga forest and peatlands shows how collaboration and investment can translate into meaningful conservation results.

This week, the Governments of Canada and Ontario will be co-hosting the Meeting of Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Conservation, Wildlife, and Biodiversity in Toronto with Minister Dabrusin and Secretary of State Provost. Discussions will focus on shared conservation priorities, such as strengthening collaboration on conservation and opportunities to mobilize public and private investment in nature.

Preparations are also underway for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17), which kicks off the week of October 19, 2026, in Yerevan, Armenia. COP17 will focus on a review of global progress toward implementation of the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and its 2030 targets. Canada will highlight its actions and investments in nature conservation, particularly through A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature, including Indigenous-led conservation, progress toward national 30x30 commitments, and the work of its Expert Taskforce on Natural Capital Accounting and Nature Financing, which aims to better recognize the value of nature and mobilize public and private investment in nature.

Quotes

"We're proud to support the Nature Conservancy of Canada in conserving one of Ontario's most carbon-rich boreal landscapes. Protecting these forests and peatlands strengthens Canada's resilience to climate change, safeguards habitat for species at risk, and helps communities better withstand droughts, wildfires, and flooding. Projects like these show how partnership-driven conservation delivers lasting benefits for people and nature. As we prepare for COP17, the conservation of landscapes like the taiga forests and peatlands shows the progress we can achieve through collaboration."
– The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

"Canadians' longstanding commitment to nature is undeniable, and our government is steadfast in its goal of protecting 30% of our lands and waters by 2030. Our commitment to projects such as those supported by the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and our continued collaboration with partnerships will help us reach our ambitious goals for nature."
– The Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada has invested more than $558 million in the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, matched by more than $1.1 billion in contributions from the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Canada's land trust community, helping protect and conserve nearly 966,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive land.
• Over the past three years, Natural Heritage Conservation Program partners have leveraged more than $250 million in non-federal contributions for conservation projects.
• In collaboration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and local and regional land trusts represented by the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts, more than 101,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive land were protected and conserved in 2025–2026, and nearly 865,000 hectares more since the program began.

Associated links

• A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature
• Natural Heritage Conservation Program
• Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Canada's 2030 Nature Strategy

Environment and Climate Change Canada's X page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page

Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's LinkedIn page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Instagram page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Contacts: Amy Falkner, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, 873-355-9725, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]