Webinars: Municipal Protected Areas Program

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As significant land use planning and management authorities, municipalities have an important role to play in helping achieve Canada’s commitment to protect 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. This target (30x30) was reaffirmed at the 15th Conference of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Montreal, in December 2022.

Several municipalities are already demonstrating leadership by publicly embracing the 30x30 target or by having their conservation lands assessed (e.g., Environmentally Sensitive Areas, county forests, municipal parks) to determine whether they can count towards the target.

Several municipalities are already demonstrating leadership by publicly embracing the 30x30 target or by having their conservation lands assessed (e.g., Environmentally Sensitive Areas, county forests, municipal parks) to determine whether they can count towards the target.

Members of the Municipal Protected Areas Program coalition presented on the role of municipalities in helping achieve the 2030 goal to protect 30 percent of our land and waters. These webinars are a great starting point if you are interested in recognizing protected areas in your municipality.

Webinars for municipal staff and councillors highlight why municipalities may want to protect the natural spaces, give examples of municipalities who have taken on this form of leadership, describe how protection of areas is achieved, and highlight the supportive role of members from the Municipal Protected Areas Program.

Webinars for nature clubs and organizations focus on how they may already be championing an area eligible to be protected and outlines how they can work with the Municipal Protected Areas Program and municipalities to make it happen.

British Columbia Context (presented by BC Nature)

Webinar for municipal staff and councillors: BC Nature MPAP - Municipal Staff (20 minutes) Webinar for BC Nature Clubs: BC Nature MPAP - Club Members (20 minutes)

Ontario Context (presented by Ontario Nature)

Webinar for Ontario municipal staff and councillors: Reaching Canada's Protected Areas Target - The Vital Role of Municipalities (40 minutes) Webinar for Ontario Nature Network organizations: Reaching Canada's Protected Areas Target: Working with Municipalities (60 minutes)