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Doing our part to conserve biodiversity and sustainably use biological resources
Canadians recognize the need to maintain a healthy environment and are
concerned about the degradation of ecosystems and loss of species and genetic diversity that result from human activities.
The Government of Canada, with support from provincial and territorial governments, ratified the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in
1992, believing it to be a very important global and national instrument for promoting and guiding efforts to conserve biodiversity and use biological resources sustainably.
As soon as the Convention was ratified, work began on a Canadian Biodiversity Strategy to determine the measures required to meet the
obligations of the Convention, and to enhance coordination of national efforts aimed at the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of biological resources.
The primary responsibility for conserving biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of biological resources is shared among provincial, territorial
and federal governments. An intergovernmental Biodiversity Working Group with representation from each of these jurisdictions was therefore established
to develop the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, Regional and urban governments, private property owners, businesses, local and indigenous communities, conservation organizations, research institutions, foundations,
and other groups also play an essential role in conserving biodiversity and sustainably using biological resources. Thus, a national non governmental
Biodiversity Advisory Group was established to provide advice to the Working Group.
The Strategy clearly recognizes that governments cannot act alone to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of biological
resources. It invites and encourages all Canadians to take action in its support and recognizes that Canada has an important role to play in cooperating with other countries, especially developing countries, to
implement the Convention.
Conserving biodiversity and sustainably using biological resources are fundamental to achieving sustainable development. Governments, local and
indigenous communities, businesses, conservation groups, individual citizens and others have developed, or are developing, conservation and sustainable
development strategies policies and clans to work towards ecological economic social and cultural sustainability.
The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy recognizes existing constitutional and legislative responsibilities biodiversity in Canada, It also emphasizes the
importance of intergovernmental cooperation to create the policy, management and research conditions necessary to advance ecological management. Provincial, territorial and federal governments, in cooperation
with stakeholders and members of the public, will pursue the implementation of the strategic directions contained in the Strategy in accordance with their policies, plans, priorities and fiscal capabilities.
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