The election was a win for nature, but now comes the real work

This next stage must be about implementation, removing politics, and ignoring misinformation, and that requires a new approach to how government functions.

Canada is home to the world’s longest coastline, nearly 25 per cent of the world’s wetlands, 20 per cent of its freshwater, and nine per cent of its forests, lands, and waters that host about 80,000 plant and animal species. Our natural wealth is extraordinary—and increasingly under pressure.

Despite the incredible economic challenges the re-elected Liberal government faces, it recognized the importance of protecting this rich biodiversity by making nature a core plank of its platform, and that’s worth celebrating.

The party’s commitments to protect and restore 30 per cent of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030, expand Arctic Indigenous Guardians programs, increase funding for Indigenous-led conservation and protection efforts, and invest in freshwater security represent continued progress.

We’re encouraged by these promises, but we also know that ambition alone won’t save nature. Action will.

Canada has agreed to implement bold goals before, most recently with the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. But turning agreements into reality has often lagged.

This isn’t the fault of any one government or individual’s leadership—it reflects the magnitude and complexity of the biodiversity crises we’re facing. That’s why this next stage must be about implementation, removing politics, and ignoring misinformation, and that requires a new approach to how government functions, with nature in mind.

To meet the challenge of this moment, where economic growth and nature both face tremendous headwinds, we need to “mainstream” biodiversity across all levels of government.

Protecting nature can’t just be the job of one department; it must be central to decisions made in finance, infrastructure, natural resources, and trade. Whether it’s aligning economic investments with ecosystem resilience, or ensuring that urban development includes space for nature, the health of our environment must be baked into every government file, not tacked on as an afterthought.

But to truly succeed, biodiversity also needs a clear ministerial champion with cross-cutting authority. One home department that co-ordinates delivery, holds others accountable, and ensures progress isn’t lost in jurisdictional shuffle. This isn’t red tape—it’s smart governance.

It’s also good for the economy.

Globally, more than half of the world’s GDP—about $44-trillion—is directly dependent on nature’s services, from pollination and water purification to climate regulation. And yet, those very systems are on the brink. Between 1970 and 2020, average global wildlife populations declined by a staggering 73 per cent.

Struggling natural systems don’t just affect wildlife—humans are also all too familiar with the impacts of a shifting climate. Just last year, Canada experienced more than $8.5-billion in insured losses from weather-related events like wildfires, floods, and hailstorms that are supercharged by a warming world.

Nature-based solutions—like restoring forests, riverbanks, and wetlands—can help mitigate the impacts of climate change through flood prevention, cooling, and carbon sequestration. It also has the potential to create thousands of jobs. But the longer we delay, the more expensive and complex the solutions become.

We’ve seen what’s possible when economic growth works hand-in-hand with conservation.

In Nunavut, Inuit Guardians programs are not only monitoring Arctic wildlife and accelerating climate impacts, but they’re also creating sustainable conservation economies. This model supports community prosperity, cultural traditions, and food security without the risks associated with extractive industries. In fact, studies commissioned by WWF-Canada have found these programs have been delivering “more than a twofold return for every dollar of investment,” already surpassing $27-million.

Taloyoak’s Guardians program—which launched in 2016 as a building block for the in-progress Aqviqtuuq Inuit Protected and Conserved Area project—has delivered more than $12-million in community co-benefits on top of job opportunities valued at $1.3-million annually.

In the British Columbia Interior, the Secwepemcúl’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society is restoring nearly 200,000 hectares of forest destroyed by wildfire that resulted in a loss of ecosystem services valued at between $500-million and $1-billion.

This is just a snapshot of what’s possible. With coordinated federal leadership, we can both grow Canada’s economy and protect the natural wonder that defines us.

It’s what Canadians want: in a recent EKOS poll by Nature Canada, 84 per cent of respondents said they wanted stronger government action to protect wildlife.

So, to the re-elected Liberal government, thank you for making nature and conservation a key part of Canada’s path forward. Let’s roll up our sleeves together. Because promises have been made, and the real work begins now.

Megan Leslie is president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada.

This op-ed was originally published in The Hill Times on May 7, 2025