Canada conducted a partial assessment of the role of collective action using the total amount of funding leveraged by 2 or more partners (e.g., Aboriginal groups, NGOs, academic institutions) to achieve common biodiversity goals. Nineteen examples of collective action programs or initiatives were assessed. Most represent federal government programs that aim to achieve a minimum of 1:1 leveraging on funds invested so that, for every $1 provided by the program, at least $1 is raised by project recipients. This leveraging can take the form of either financial or in-kind resources (volunteered labor, products or services). Other indicators that reflect the role of collective action are presented below. Habitat Stewardship Program https://www.ec.gc.ca/hsp-pih/; The Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) is part of Canada’s national strategy for the protection of species at risk. Since 2000, the program has invested over $150 million to support 2,387 local conservation projects, benefitting the habitat of more than 400 species at risk. These projects have in turn leveraged an additional $321.4 million for a total investment of over $450 million in stewardship projects to support the recovery of species at risk. The program has established over 300 partnerships with Aboriginal organizations, landowners, resource users, nature trusts, provinces, the natural resource sector, community-based wildlife societies, educational institutions and conservation organizations. Every year, on average, an additional 188,000 ha are protected through direct actions taken by landowners, land managers, or conservation agencies. The program reaches more than a million people every year through outreach and education activities. https://www.ec.gc.ca/hsp-pih/ . Between 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, the HSP invested $36.7 million to support 900 local species for the protection of species at risk and their habitat; http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=FEF1141D-1&news=8334AC21-47F1-4734-9182-A5EE2016A388 Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk https://www.retablissement-recovery.gc.ca/afsar-faep/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.main&lang=E Since its inception in 2004-05, the AFSAR has supported Aboriginal involvement in the conservation and recovery of species at risk across the country. Since that time, the AFSAR invested almost $22 million in 669 projects. The projects involved more than 200 communities and benefited more than 280 Species at Risk Act (SARA) listed or Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed species through increased Aboriginal awareness of species at risk and through the development of strategies, guidelines and practices, or the completion of monitoring, surveying and inventorying studies. Starting in 2014-15, the AFSAR will support Aboriginal involvement in the conservation of priority species beyond species at risk. Environmental Damages Fund http://www.ec.gc.ca/edf-fde/ Since 1995, the EDF has received over $4.5 million from 154 awards and has funded 149 projects across Canada with partners that include Non-governmental organizations, Universities and academic institutions, Aboriginal groups and Provincial, territorial and municipal governments. Community Interaction Program - St. Lawrence Action Plan http://planstlaurent.qc.ca/en/funding_program/community_interaction_program.html Restoration of natural areas in the Matane region: Since 2002, the environmental group Uni-Vert has been restoring several natural sites located at the cliffs along the shore of the St. Lawrence River in the Matane region. This group's interventions have helped preserve local biodiversity by restoring existing habitats, by preventing eroded material from filling habitats located at the foot of the cliffs, and by stabilizing the coastal environment. To control the erosion process in the cliffs and to prevent them from collapsing, Uni-Vert is continuing its efforts to restore habitats in Petit-Matane by installing brush mats and wattle fences. The photos below show the growth of the new vegetation that was planted for this purpose in spring 2014. http://planstlaurent.qc.ca/en/community_interaction/success_stories.html#c2595 EcoAction Community Funding Program http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction/ The EcoAction Community Funding Initiative delivered 206 projects through contribution agreements in 2009–2010. Of these, 125 were new projects representing a departmental investment of $4.2 million. These projects leveraged $10.3 million in cash and in kind support, which translates to $2.45 leveraged for every dollar of federal funding, with an average of 5.6 partner sectors involved in each project. The program funded 54% of project applications received. In support of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, 54 biodiversity related projects were funded, for a total of $1.65 million in federal funding. These projects will reduce biodiversity loss, protect wildlife and improve species habitat, and increase urban re naturalization. Climate change projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions represented 35% of new projects funded, for a total of $1.7 million in federal funding. The remaining projects focused on clean water (23%) and clean air (4%) initiatives. Over 420 000 individuals were engaged in EcoAction projects across Canada, including 2574 volunteers. An additional 108 jobs were created. Nature: 1470 hectares of habitat were permanently protected; 277 hectares of habitat were created, restored or rehabilitated; over 61 000 native plants, trees and shrubs were planted; and 211 wildlife structures were installed. http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dpr-rmr/2009-2010/inst/doe/st-ts04-eng.asp#tpp5 Great Lakes Sustainability Fund https://ec.gc.ca/raps-pas/default.asp?lang=En&n=F328E319-1 2012-2013 Funding: $1,716,045 total, including $46,000 provided by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. Former farmland near the St. Clair River is being converted back to wetlands and forest to support fish and wildlife in a rare Canadian ecosystem, with the support of the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. The St. Clair River Area of Concern covers about 335 000 hectares on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, including the river, its delta channels and its immediate drainage basin. The wetlands and shallow open waters of the lower St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair provide important habitat for many fish and wildlife species and are considered some of the most important wetland areas in the Great Lakes basin. For many years, the river has been subject to industrial activity and agricultural development in its drainage basin, which have led to a loss of fish and wildlife habitats and populations. The Bowens Creek Habitat Enhancement Project is located on public lands owned by the County of Lambton in St. Clair Township, within a kilometre of the St. Clair River. Historically, the area was a wetland but was drained many years ago and used for agricultural purposes. The property is a rare ecosystem type in Canada. The area's wet prairie and mature deciduous forest provide habitat for more than 15 locally rare Carolinian flora and fauna, including the Riddell's Goldenrod, the Shumard Oak, the Hooded Warbler, the Climbing Prairie Rose and several reptile species. The project started in 2011, with about 20 hectares of agricultural land pulled out of production to help establish about 8 hectares of restored wetlands. Within months, hundreds of waterfowl were using the site. Over the next 3 years, project partners plan to create about 50 hectares of wetlands and forest habitat for wildlife, using native trees, shrubs and tall prairie grasses. https://www.ec.gc.ca/raps-pas/default.asp?lang=En&n=7AE37541-1 Lake Simcoe/South-eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund https://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=85C54DAE-1 The 2007-2012 Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund: Canadians who work, live, or enjoy recreation around Lake Simcoe have already benefited from the Government of Canada’s efforts to clean-up the lake through the successful Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund, which included $30 million over a five year period from 2007 to 2012. The Fund leveraged an estimated $28.5 million from non-federal sources, supported 160 community-based projects to enhance fish and wildlife, and reduced phosphorous discharges to Lake Simcoe by an average of three tonnes per year. Specific results included: Installing 20,000 meters of fencing to restrict approximately 1300 livestock from water courses; Planting more than 72,000 native trees/shrubs/grasses to stabilize shorelines and reduce phosphorous runoff; Upgrading 110 septic systems; Developing an optimization manual for a sewage treatment plant; Implementing storm water pond retrofits in several municipalities. Natural Areas Conservation Program http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=FEF1141D-1&news=8334AC21-47F1-4734-9182-A5EE2016A388 As of March 2011, the Natural Areas Conservation Program has protected 160,796 hectares of habitat, which includes habitat for 101 species at risk. The Government of Canada’s investment has been matched by Canadians, the private sector and other governments, resulting in more than $600 million in conservation activity through funding contributions and land donations. Under this program, the Government of Canada has set an ambitious goal of conserving 545,000 acres (218,000 hectares) of ecologically significant land across southern Canada. With these investments, nearly 399,000 hectares (986,000 acres) have been conserved as August 2015, providing habitat for 195 species at risk — an area almost twice the size of the goal set under the Natural Areas Conservation Program. http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/conservation-program/ Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/rfcpp-ppcpr/index-eng.html In 2013-2014, 94 projects were funded that included 380 partners, 1768 volunteers and 2,472m2 and 2,087 km habitat restored. Examples of some project results are provided below. Project 1: Moody’s Slough is a side channel of the Cheakamus River that has combined ground water and river flows and provides important habitat for numerous salmonids, including Coho salmon. It is a complex slough system with several “blind” off-shoot channels. With funding from the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, the Squamish River Watershed Society re-connected several channels through channel excavation, culvert installation, weir construction and diversions so that flows were re-established. These channels now provide important over-wintering, spawning, and rearing habitat for Coho salmon and other salmonids. It is expected that 10,000 to 20,000 Coho fry will benefit year round from these changes. The high-quality refuge habitat will be especially important in summer. Project 2: With funding from the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, a fish bypass channel was constructed by Valleys 2000 Incorporated on the Bowmanville Creek to help preserve and restore the recreational fishery in Southern and Central Lake Ontario. Approximately 31 fish species are known to live, spawn and migrate along the Bowmanville and Soper Creek watersheds, including Atlantic and Chinook Salmon, which have been reintroduced into the area in the past decade. Before the bypass channel was built, an old industrial dam had been a major barrier to these species attempting to swim to spawning grounds – now they are able to traverse around the dam. Salmonid Enhancement Program – Pacific Salmon Foundation Community Salmon Program http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/rpp/2014-15/SO1/so-rs-1.4-eng.html; https://www.psf.ca/what-we-do/community-salmon-program Since 1989 the Pacific Salmon Foundation Community Salmon Program through efforts from a range of partners has resulted in, for example: • $41.3 million in project awards and grants to a total of 2,262 projects • More than 35,000 community volunteers engaged in 72 communities across B.C. • Rehabilitation of more than 1.1 million square metres of streams and estuaries • Planting of more than 78,665 trees and shrubs in riparian areas • Production of more than 11.3 million juvenile salmon through conservation hatcheries • The total value of the projects has been $147 million. BioBlitz in Rouge Park http://www.ontariobioblitz.ca/2012-rouge-park.html; http://www.ontariobioblitz.ca/2013-rouge-park.html In 2012, there were over 225 participants and over 1450 species discovered which is considered the highest number in the world for a BioBlitz in the year 2012. Rare finds included a spider never-before recorded in Toronto (Sphodros niger), Calico Crayfish (Oroconectes immunis), and many plants including Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). In 2013, there were over 430 participants and 1,791 species identified. The event broke the record for the number of species counted during a BioBlitz (a title which was overthrown by National Geographic in 2014). Genera identified included least 80 spiders, 7 of which have never before been documented in the park; Many plant, insect and fungi species had never been documented in the park before, including a rare plant found at the mouth of the Rouge River; a Smoky Shrew (Sorex fumeus), never before seen in the Park, was found dead along a road; 60 painted turtles were observed, the most abundant reptile during the survey. Moreover, in response to CBD notification 2017-006 (requesting submissions on Assessing the Contribution of Collective Actions of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities) Canada confirmed that, as part of its national effort to advance progress on Canada’s national biodiversity goals and targets for 2020, and in particular Target 1 (conserve at least 17% of terrestrial area and inland waters and 10% of coastal and marine area by 2020), the Government launched in 2016 the “Pathway to Canada Target 1”, a multi-stakeholder and collaborative platform that brings together all levels of government, indigenous peoples, communities and other stakeholders to work together to achieve the national protected areas target. Indigenous peoples are active participants and contribute their traditional knowledge and wisdom. One of the key topics of work is the development of recommendations for establishing and recognizing indigenous and community conserved areas (ICCAs) by an Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE). Recognition of indigenous rights, respect, cooperation and partnership with indigenous peoples across Canada are identified as key conditions for advancing the collective action represented by the Pathway.