NCC Magazine fall 2018

It’s clear that Canada’s wild places mean
something to Lounds; something more than
pretty scenery. “It’s who we are,” he says. “It’s
woven into the fabric of our nation. Indigenous
Peoples in Canada, who cared for this land
long before European settlers arrived, are
deeply connected to nature. They believe the
natural world is sacred. We have much to learn.”
Lounds dips his paddle into the glassy
water and propels the canoe forward. When
not navigating the water in a canoe, Lounds
is at the helm of the Nature Conservancy of
Canada (NCC), an organization that conserves
what symbolizes Canada the world over: our
natural places and wildlife. “We have the
opportunity, perhaps more than any other
nation on the planet, to make conservation
count,” he reflects.
Although today’s paddle is a short one,
there will be more adventurous canoe trips
for Lounds. For now, looming large on his
agenda is NCC’s most ambitious undertaking
to date. Lounds and his colleagues are
inviting Canadians to join the Landmark
Campaign, with its goals to conserve more
land faster, connect more Canadians to
nature and inspire the next generation
of conservation leaders.
We have the opportunity, perhaps
more than any other nation on the
planet, to make conservation count.
JOHN LOUNDS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CANADA
Conserving land faster
These are staggering goals: the Landmark
Campaign aims to raise $750 million and conserve
3.2 million acres (1.3 million hectares).
This will help secure at least 500 new land
conservation projects and 10 large-scale
signature projects (see p. 8).
Lounds leads from the conviction that
thinking big is the first step toward achieving
big results. Ask him if he’s daunted by this
latest shoot-for-the-moon campaign, and he
responds with characteristically quiet conviction
about what NCC can achieve, but only
with the help of its supporters.
“It’s our supporters who encouraged us
to set the most ambitious goals in our history.
Their passion for nature — their belief in
what we do — gives us confidence that we
can reach those goals,” reflects Lounds.
He points to the over $540 million already
raised since the start of the campaign. The
Landmark Campaign will effectively double
the amount of land protected in NCC’s 56-
year history. And, he notes, urgency drives
the mission. “Canada’s natural landscapes
are still under threat from habitat loss
and fragmentation, invasive species and,
of course, climate change,” he says.
“We may never get a better chance to
conserve our country’s natural legacy.”
NCC is building upon decades of sciencebased
conservation planning, ensuring it is
well-positioned to move swiftly when opportunities
arise. Take, for instance, the recent
Birch River project in northeast Alberta.
NCC partnered with the Tallcree Tribal Government,
provincial and federal governments,
Syncrude and The Schad Foundation to remove
the timber quotas on 3,300 km 2 of boreal
forest so this area can be designated a provincial
park. When added to Wood Buffalo
National Park and other contiguous conserved
areas, this is now the largest stretch of protected
boreal forest on the planet.
Landmark achievements such as the Birch
River project have been possible because of
NCC’s unique ability to create partnerships
with other groups. Creating partnerships across
the spectrum has long been a priority for
Lounds. “It’s not about us,” he says. “We’re in
...continued on page 11
L TO R: MIKE FORD. THOMAS FRICKE.
6 FALL 2018 natureconservancy.ca