The initiative will help conserve biodiversity and improve connections between important natural areas in British Columbia

July 9, 2025                              Kelowna, British Columbia                       Parks Canada

Today, the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defense procurement, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced $5.3 million in federal funding to support an agreement to advance ecological corridor projects, nature conservation and Indigenous stewardship in British Columbia. The Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, announced that the Province of British Columbia is contributing an additional $3 million, further strengthening this collaborative effort to improve ecological connectivity.

Many animals need to reach habitat well beyond the boundaries of protected areas to survive, and ecological connectivity is the movement of these wild species and the flow of natural processes through a landscape. With support from both governments, the Stewardship of Ecological Corridors in British Columbia initiative focuses on identifying, planning, and acting to improve movement through ecological corridors - linkages that connect natural habitats, including protected and conserved areas. Ecological corridors provide biodiversity and human well-being benefits and are vital for the long-term health of ecosystems.

The project will build on existing natural resource programs and partnerships to promote and accelerate stewardship and conservation. It will advance ecological connectivity in areas of shared national, provincial, and Indigenous priority, and strengthen collaboration between all partners. Indigenous leadership and involvement are central to the approach, guiding planning and achieving on-the-ground action.

This collaborative approach reflects the shared commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and honour Indigenous stewardship. It helps create connections that matter for wildlife, communities and generations to come.

Through this investment, the Parks Canada National Program for Ecological Corridors and the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship are building a strong foundation for the long-term conservation of the diverse and changing landscapes in British Columbia. 

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