FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
FREDERICTON, NB

New Brunswick’s leading conservation groups are asking candidates what they will do to protect NB's nature and act on climate change if they are elected in Canada's federal election on September 20th.

In the open letter, Nature NB, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society—NB Chapter, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and the Nature Trust of New Brunswick are asking candidates to define how they will meet the international and national land conservation targets of 25 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030, respectively. 

The groups say that protecting, restoring, and stewarding land and ocean to flourish reduces the risks and impacts from extreme climatic events, curbs species and biodiversity decline, and promotes healthy communities for Canadians.

The federal government has committed to the largest nature conservation target in Canadian history; however, without investments in funding to steward these protected areas we will not reach these targets or effectively conserve nature for the long-term. In New Brunswick, with one of the country’s lowest protected area rates at 4.7 per cent, providing additional support to ensure the province reaches its current goal of 10 per cent protection, as well as removing any barriers to establishing and stewarding new protected land and ocean is vital.

The groups’ questionnaire asks candidates what they will do to invest in Indigenous-led nature planning in New Brunswick, including the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and their stewardship by Indigenous Guardians, Indigenous-led efforts to restore and steward species at risk and habitat, and recognize and respect Indigenous knowledge in all aspects of nature conservation.

Given that privately-owned protected land can increase connectivity between habitats and when combined with provincial and federal protected areas, are critical for expanding the landscape that is managed for ecosystem resilience especially under climate change, the groups also asked candidates what they would do to empower and incentivize New Brunswick landowners to become involved in advocating and managing for conservation and protected areas as a part of community climate response.

Access the open letter to candidates and federal party leaders below.

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Candidate Responses

  • Liberal Party Response: submitted by Jason Hickey, candidate for New Brunswick Southwest, on September 8th. Access it here.

  • Libertarian Party Response: submitted by Brandon Kirby, candidate for Fredericton, on September 13th. Access it here.

  • New Democratic Party Response: submitted by Jagmeet Singh, federal party leader, on September 15th. Access it here.

  • Green Party Response: submitted by Richard Dunn, candidate for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, on September 17th. Access it here.

Keep an eye on our social media channels, as we will be sharing the responses from candidates as they are returned to us.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - NB Chapter: rclowater@cpaws.org; (506) 452-9902

Lois Corbett, Executive Director, Conservation Council of New Brunswick: lois.corbett@conservationcouncil.ca; (506) 238-5292

Vanessa Roy-McDougall, Executive Director, Nature NB: executive.director@naturenb.ca; (506) 459-4209

Stephanie Merrill, Chief Executive Officer, Nature Trust of New Brunswick: stephanie.merrill@ntnb.org; (506) 457-2398


Who we are: 

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is a charitable land conservation organization established in 1987 dedicated to preserving the province’s ecologically significant landscapes. To date, the Nature Trust has conserved over 10,000 acres in 69 beautiful and diverse nature preserves in New Brunswick. Our mission is to conserve areas in New Brunswick that are ecologically significant, to establish nature preserves that remain protected forever, to steward the preserves through a network of volunteers and supporters, and to engage with the public on the importance of land conservation, New Brunswick’s natural heritage, biodiversity, and species at risk. Visit website.

Nature NB is a provincial conservation organization comprised of a dozen naturalist clubs from across the province and hundreds of members. Our mission is to celebrate, conserve and protect New Brunswick’s natural heritage through education, networking and collaboration. Visit website.

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NB Chapter is part of the nation-wide charity CPAWS, with a mission to work with governments, Indigenous peoples and communities to protect more of Canada’s publicly managed lands and water – for the benefit of both wildlife and people. We work cooperatively with all parts of society to find solutions to nature conservation challenges and to connect people to the nature that supports us all. CPAWS-NB has led public campaigns that have resulted in over 150,000 hectares of new protected areas in New Brunswick. Visit website.

Conservation Council of New Brunswick was established in 1969 and has remained the province’s leading public advocate for environmental protection. A member of the UN’s Global 500 Roll of Honour, we work to find practical solutions to help families and citizens, educators, governments and businesses protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, the precious marine ecosystem and the land, including the forest, that support us. Visit website.