Canadian Biodiversity Strategy: Canada’s Response to the Convention on Biological Diversity

Summary

Biodiversity supports human societies ecologically, economically, culturally and spiritually. Despite its importance, however, ecosystems are being degraded and species and genetic diversity reduced at an alarming rate due to the impact of our growing human population and increasing resource consumption rates. The global decline of biodiversity is now recognized as one of the most serious environmental issues facing humanity.

Recognition of the world-wide impact of the decline of biodiversity inspired the global community to negotiate the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. (…) One of the key obligations for parties that have ratified the Convention is to prepare a national strategy. The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy is a response to this obligation and has been developed as a guide to the implementation of the Biodiversity Convention in Canada. All of the strategic directions contained in the Strategy are relevant from a national perspective, but some elements of the Strategy may not be relevant in some jurisdictions. The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy recognizes existing constitutional and legislative responsibilities for biodiversity in Canada. It also emphasizes the importance of intergovernmental cooperation to create the policy, management and research conditions necessary to advance ecological management. Federal, provincial and territorial governments, in cooperation with stakeholders and members of the public, will pursue implementation of the directions contained in the Strategy according to their policies, plans, priorities and fiscal capabilities.

— Excerpt from the document’s Executive Summary