Canada

From arctic tundra to rich boreal forests and wetlands.

Our Canada program is a key part of Audubon’s total-flyway conservation vision that uses applied science to ensure that bird conservation efforts are initiated at the places and at the scales necessary to protect birds throughout their full lifecycles. Audubon is working to elevate support for initiatives such as the Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and Indigenous Guardians programs across Canada.

Science-based conservation strategies help to protect large landscapes—including forests, wetlands, and coastal habitats—from the threats of development and the effects of climate change. Canada now has some of the world’s largest modern land-conservation designations, which are protecting critical habitat for tens of millions of migratory birds. But there is more work to be done to ensure permanent protection and stewardship of these lands.
Indigenous Nations are currently pursuing some of the most ambitious plans for preserving lands and waters across Canada. Together, these Indigenous-led proposals could protect more than 100 million acres of critically important Boreal Forest habitat, a place often referred to as North America’s bird nursery. 

What We're Doing

1
Support for Indigenous-led Conservation
working in collaboration with Indigenous governments and communities to advance their conservation and land stewardship goals
2
Voices for Conservation
increasing awareness of and support for the conservation of vital bird habitat across Canada
3
Conservation Science
developing science that highlights the conservation values and priorities for ecologically important regions across Canada
Sunset over a lake by Lutsel K'e.
Lutsel K'e. Photo: Christine Lin
  •  Over 300 bird species nest in or regularly migrate through the Boreal Forest in Canada.
  • Canada contains the world’s largest total area of wetland habitat. Wetlands are rich in biodiversity, plus they play an important role in natural climate solutions.
  • The Boreal Forest in Canada is one of the world’s largest intact forest ecosystems and one of the most important regions for birds in the Western Hemisphere.
Learn more

The Latest

An aerial view of an all-terrain vehicle driving through a landscape
First Nations Are On the Cusp of a Big Marine Conservation Win in Canada—and They Have Even Bigger Plans
December 02, 2024 — Indigenous communities in Ontario are leading a campaign to protect critical portions of a vast inland sea that people, migratory birds, and other wildlife all rely upon. Can they conserve the coastline and carbon-storing peatlands, too?
Seal River Watershed Alliance Land Guardians with Nasly Fernanda Vidales González, Subsecretary of Sustainable Development for the Cauca Valley
Land Guardians Step Into the Spotlight
November 07, 2024 — Reprint of an op-ed article in the Winnipeg Free Press about the Seal River Watershed Alliance Land Guardians representing their work at COP16
Common Tern with a fish
Summer Birding Adventure
October 01, 2024 — My first bird camp experience
Boreal Conservation
Providing support for Indigenous-led conservation and large-scale land protections across the Boreal Forest of Canada.

Our Team

Jeff Wells

Vice President, Boreal Conservation

Lane Nothman

Program Director, Boreal Conservation

Photo of Rebecca wearing a light green shirt in front of a barn.

Rebecca Sentner

Senior Communications Manager, Boreal Conservation

Photo of Carrie Gray smiling at the camera. She is wearing a gray knit beanie, a white and red patterned scarf, and a blue winter jacket.

Carrie Gray

Boreal Conservation Specialist

Kohl Barrault

Indigenous Collaboration Coordinator

Véronique Couttee

Véronique Couttee-Jenkins

Knowledge Transfer and Outreach Specialist