NCC magazine: spring 2025

Life support
TKTKTKTKTKTKT
Forests breathe life into our world. Ensuring their resilient future
is critical for nature and people to thrive
natureconservancy.ca
WINTER 2021 1

SPRING 2025
CONTENTS
Nature Conservancy of Canada
4 Forests breathe life
The restoration and sustainability of forests
is key to resilient nature and communities.
6 Hopkins Conservation Site
Take a trek through this unique junction
between the boreal forest and aspen parkland.
7 Spring is in the air
Keep your eyes and ears open for these
delightful signs that signal a season of
growth and life.
7 A source of Prairie pride
Norm Gregoire’s trusty field guide opens
eyes and hearts to the endangered tall
grass prairie in Manitoba.
8 By seed and by saw
Ensuring the future of resilient forests
with the best conservation tools suited
for each region.
12 Grizzly bear
One of Canada’s largest mammals faces
threats as significant as its stature.
14 Project updates
Community-driven success in Quebec;
supporting Indigenous-led conservation;
rewilding a forest in New Brunswick;
a working landscape in Alberta.
16 Our need for nature
Wyle Baoween wants everyone to experience
the transfomative power of being connected
to the natural world.
18 A forest for all
Encountering a family of American black
bears on the trail in southern Ontario.
Digital extras
Check out our online magazine with
additional content to supplement this issue,
at nccmagazine.ca.
Nature Conservancy of Canada
365 Bloor Street East, Suite 1501
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4W 3L4
magazine@natureconservancy.ca | Phone: 416.932.3202 | Toll-free: 877.231.3552
As Canada’s leading environmental charity, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has worked
with partners to conserve natural landscapes since 1962. Together, we deliver solutions to address
the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale and long-term conservation.
We create lasting change for the planet and its people by partnering around shared interests with
governments, businesses, communities and Indigenous Nations. Nature makes it possible.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine is distributed to donors and supporters of NCC.
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2 SPRING 2024

The abundance of
moss on these western
redcedar and hemlock
trees hints at how old
this stand may be at
Incomappleux Valley, BC.
On the cover: A stand
of birch trees at the
Busenius project in
the Upper North
Saskatchewan River
Basin, AB.
Featured
Contributors
KYRIA KNIBB-MCLUHAN: MICHAEL MCLUHAN; ALBERT LAW: SACHIN KHONA; ASHLEY BARRON: COURTESY OF ASHLEY BARRON.
Dear friends,
When was the last time you stood in the presence of towering
trees, turned your gaze up to glimpse the sky through a forest
canopy or smelled the earthy scent of rich forest soil? The forest
that I know best and that I return to each season, on the Saugeen (Bruce)
Peninsula, helps me rejuvenate from the busyness of daily life.
Evidence shows that spending time in forests benefits our health
and well-being. This is certainly true for me. This past winter, as I lay
on a blanket of fresh snow at the base of a tree-lined toboggan hill with
my daughter, I gazed up at the still, bare canopy and felt the calmness
of a winter forest wash over me.
Forests breathe life into our world. More than places to recreate, they
play many critical roles for nature and for people, from purifying air and
filtering water to regulating the climate. They are resources for food, medicine
and cultural practices, too.
Canada is home to nearly 10 per cent of the world’s forests, yet we are
losing them faster than they are growing back. The forests that remain
are facing unprecedented threats such as invasive species, habitat loss and
catastrophic wildfires.
Forests do so much for us. Now, it’s our turn to care for them. In this
issue, you’ll read about the important roles that forests play and how
your support will ensure they continue to provide habitat for wildlife and
sustain our well-being and our economies. And you’ll get a glimpse into
the restoration work happening across the country to help make forests
more resilient to the threats they face today.
Together, we can protect and care for forests in support of resilient
landscapes across Canada.
Yours in conservation,
Kyria Knibb-McLuhanr
Kyria Knibb-McLuhan
Senior director, campaign and development
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Albert Law is a
Vancouver-based
editorial and commercial
photographer.
His work spans
a broad range, from
soft editorial portraits
to photojournalism
in austere conditions
with the Canadian
Armed Forces. He
photographed Wyle
Baoween for “Our need
for nature,” on page 16.
Ashley Barron is a
multimedia artist who
is best known for her
paper collage work.
She is the illustrator of
over a dozen picture
books and works on
a wide assortment of
advertising and
editorial projects. She
created the illustrations
for “Spring is in
the air”, on page 7,
and “A forest for all”,
on page 18.
SPRING 2025 3

COAST TO
COAST
Forests
breathe
life
The restoration and sustainability
of forests is key to resilient nature
and communities
Forests are vital to the health of our
planet and the relations it sustains.
Covering one-third of the country,
forests provide habitat for thousands of
species. Their life-sustaining functions
include cleaning the air and filtering water,
supporting livelihoods and the continuation
of culture. Yet, forests face unprecedented
threats from development, unnaturally large
and catastrophic wildfires, and invasive
species. Losing forests on the landscape
means losing vital oxygen, carbon stores,
habitat for countless species, and lands of
profound cultural and economic value to
Indigenous Peoples.
Across the country, the Nature Conservancy
of Canada (NCC) collaborates with
partners and communities to care for forest
habitats. Forest restoration helps revitalize
areas that have been historically altered or
degraded. Ensuring forests are intact also
helps prevent soil erosion, flooding and
desertification. Through its collaborative
and landscape-scale approach, NCC creates
and supports tangible solutions that address
the dual crises of biodiversity loss and
climate change.
Find out more about the important roles
that forests play in a resilient landscape, and
why we need to care for them and ensure
their future now, more than ever.
PAUL ZIZKA.
4 SPRING 2025 natureconservancy.ca

A global responsibility
Canada holds nearly 10 per cent of the world’s
forests, which are essential for regulating the global
climate and supporting biodiversity. Losing forests
disrupts water cycles, increases land temperatures
and reduces habitat needed for wildlife to thrive.
Keeping carbon in check
Forests capture carbon from the atmosphere.
But when they are lost to fire or destruction,
they become carbon sources, amplifying
environmental impacts.
The boreal forest in Canada houses more intact
forests than anywhere else in the world. And soils
in the boreal forest make up the largest storehouse
of terrestrial carbon; nearly twice as much per
square kilometre as tropical forests.
A win-win for wildlife
The ranges of more than 400 species at risk are
found in forests in Canada, including those that
depend on forest corridors for their movement.
Forests also provide habitat for game animals,
which offer food security for communities. A joint
research study by NCC and the University of British
Columbia found that conserving forest habitat
close to agricultural lands supports native pollinators,
which can in turn increase crop yields.
A host of biodiversity
Forests in Canada represent a tapestry of vibrant
landscapes and are home to around 140 native
tree species. They support an incredible array of
plants, insects, fungi, birds, mosses, lichens and
more. Of the 426 bird species that breed in forests
across the country, nearly one-third rely on these
habitats for survival.
Indigenous culture and
stewardship
Indigenous people hold deep relationships with
the land and have been caring for forests for
millennia. Their Traditional Knowledge, passed
down through generations, offers key insights
about the species that live in them, wildlife
migration, medicine and more. The level of
conservation needed to safeguard forests for the
long-term cannot be done without Indigenous
Peoples’ collaboration.1
Richard Klafki, director of NCC’s
Canadian Rockies Program,
taking in the ancient trees of
the Incomappleux Valley, BC.
PROTECT FORESTS.
PROTECT LIFE.
natureconservancy.ca/forests
natureconservancy.ca
SPRING 2025 5

BOOTS ON
THE TRAIL
N
Coyote Lake
★
Hopkins
Conservation
Site
Wood lily
Coyote Lake
Gazebo views
Boreal chickadee
Hopkins
Conservation Site
Take a trek through this unique junction between the boreal forest
and aspen parkland
At the crossroads of the mixedwood
boreal forest and central parkland
subregions, you’ll find the Hopkins
Conservation Site. Here, nestled in the heart
of Alberta’s Capital Region Conservation
Area, lies the Coyote Lake area; a hidden
gem that beautifully blends forest, wetland
and wildlife, just 100 kilometres southwest
of Edmonton. This unique junction supports
an incredible diversity of life, including rare
orchids and the delicate Columbian watermeal,
and over 150 bird species and 22
mammal species. Elk, deer and moose tracks
are often seen throughout the trails in fall and
winter, while waterfowl grace the lake during
spring, summer and fall.
Immerse yourself in the quiet beauty of the
forest and take in the lakeside views. Whether
you’re hiking through the woods or quietly
observing wildlife from the gazebo, four accessible,
year-round trails offer a chance to
recharge and connect with nature. Coyote
Lake is not only a place of beauty but also
a vital part of Alberta’s resilient landscapes.1
LEGEND
Parking
Gazebo
--- East Boundary Trail
--- Lakeview Trail
--- Moose Meadow Trail
--- West Boundary Trail
SPECIES TO SPOT
• black bear
• boreal chickadee
• boreal chorus
frog
• gadwall
• green-winged teal
LEAN MORE
Learn more about the
project and trails here:
• moose
• northern hawk owl
• pine grosbeak
• porcupine
• white-tailed deer
• wood frog
MAP: JACQUES PERRAULT. PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT: NCC; SEAN FEAGAN/NCC STAFF; SEAN FEAGAN/NCC STAFF; NCC.
6 SPRING 2025
natureconservancy.ca

ACTIVITY
CORNER
BACKPACK
ESSENTIALS
Spring is in
the air
As the chill of winter gradually fades, the
first hints of spring begin to emerge among
diverse forests in Canada. Keep your eyes and
ears open for these delightful signs that signal a
season of growth and life.
ILLUSTRATION: ASHLEY BARRON. PHOTO: THOMAS FRICKE.
EYES TO THE SKIES
Across the country, millions of migratory
birds will soon return from their southern
wintering grounds, or depart to their northern
breeding grounds. Flocks of snow buntings
and tundra swans will return to the north at
the first signs of spring. Conversely, one of the
first arrivals from the south are red-winged
blackbirds, with their striking black feathers
and red epaulets. Listen for their distinctive
“konk-ke-ree” call as they announce the season
in wetlands and meadows. In coastal BC,
salmonberry bushes burst into bloom,
attracting hummingbirds and other wildlife.
These native plants provide a vital food source,
making it a perfect time to spot a rufous
hummingbird performing aerial displays.
LISTEN FOR THE SOUNDS OF LOVE
In eastern Canada, the night air fills with
the raucous calls of spring peepers. These
small tree frogs announce their presence with
a chorus of “peep peep peep,” near forested
wetlands. Their calls are a sign that the ponds
are warming up for the frogs’ mating season.
SPOT THE SPRING BLOOMS
Look for emerging buds on trees and shrubs,
and for ephemeral plants emerging on
forest floors. Found from British Columbia to
Newfoundland, the beaked hazelnut shrub
produces tiny pink flowers, which turn into
green beaked fruits containing small hazelnuts.
In eastern forests, watch for striking bloodroots,
with their snowy white flowers.1
A source of
Prairie pride
Norm Gregoire’s trusty field guide opens eyes and hearts
to the endangered tall grass prairie in Manitoba
Growing up in Stuartburn, Manitoba, the tall grass prairies have always
been the familiar view out my front window. It wasn’t until later that
I saw the forest for the trees, or in this case, the Prairie for the grasses,
and I understood just how unique and endangered this ecosystem is. Now, in my
role as community liaison for species at risk, my mission is to raise awareness
about the tall grass prairies. Through engaging with landowners, community
groups, schools and the public, my hope is that we can keep this ecosystem and
its species from disappearing.
Whether I am leading hikes, giving talks or helping visitors at the Weston
Family Tallgrass Prairie Interpretive Centre, I always carry the field guide that
showcases the 28 species at risk in the area. My personal copy is well-used
because I take it out often. It’s hugely popular and I bring extra copies every
time I engage with the public to give them out. These little booklets with a photo
and short description of the species are a conduit for deeper conversations
about how awesome the Prairies are and what lives in them. Some folks are
shocked to learn that there are species at risk in the area, and it gives them
a sense of pride of the amazing nature that surrounds them.
I used to look outside Manitoba for iconic landscapes, but my pride now resides
in being in the heart of the 0.5 per cent of what remains of the tall grass prairie in
Manitoba’s former range, and sharing that with the community.1
natureconservancy.ca
SPRING 2025 7

Saplings rise at the
Golden Ranches
Conservation Area, AB.
Ensuring
the future
of resilient
forests with
the best
conservation
tools suited
for each region
By see
and
BY Jensen Edwards
SEAN FEAGAN/NCC STAFF.
8 SPRING 2025 natureconservancy.ca

d
by saw
Delaney Schlemko stands
as a giant in a forest, peering
down across the thousands of
treetops she’s helping to steward.
She’s careful not to crush the woody
stems of native species like white spruce,
lodgepole pine and black spruce underfoot
as she strides through the landscape. These
trees are precious, delicate, and knee-height,
but are a forest nonetheless.
Planted by non-profit organization Project
Forest throughout a 55-hectare field at the
Golden Ranches Conservation Area, southeast
of Edmonton, the 110,000 saplings
Schlemko oversees are competing for sun
and soil with invasive species that have
become common across the region. But as
their branches reach wider and their roots
drive deeper, these trees at Golden Ranches
are reasserting their role in Alberta’s Beaver
Hills landscape.
“Forests are an important piece of the
landscape puzzle here,” says Schlemko, the
Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s)
natural area manager for northeast Alberta.
Among their countless services, the area’s
forests offer shelter for species and recreation
for residents. They also serve as the meeting
point between Alberta’s southern aspen parkland
and its boreal forest in the north.
Sandwiched between suburban Edmonton
and agricultural landscapes, the Beaver
Hills region faces significant pressures from
urban sprawl, land conversion and drought.
Between 2015 and 2020, for instance, native
forest loss here accounted for nearly half
of all land cover change. And with each tree
lost, the Beaver Hills loses so much more
than a plant.
Whether it’s for livelihoods in forestry
and forest products, for cultural connections
or for the recreation opportunities they offer
and the clean air they provide, forests support
life. And just as humans rely on these
ecosystems for a rich array of benefits, forests
themselves depend on the actions of their
human neighbours. But increasingly erratic
weather events, moisture levels and our own
past misconceptions about “wilderness” and
the perceptions that humans were separate
from nature now threaten this symbiotic relationship
and the resilience of our communities
and landscapes. That’s why NCC is working
with many partners to restore the balance
in forests across the country.
natureconservancy.ca
SPRING 2025 9

Building resiliency with
saws and flame
Planting trees is not a one-size-fits-all solution
to forest resilience. Nature’s not that simple.
To choose the best conservation tool, NCC
assesses the history of a given landscape,
along with the changes it has been subjected
to. It’s essential that we adapt our approach
on each property to ensure that our actions
there have the maximum impact across
the landscape if we’re to reach our ultimate
goal: a future where nature and people
thrive together.
Take, for example, the Rocky Mountain
Trench.
Before European settlement, the landscapes
in British Columbia’s southeast corner
looked more like open savannahs than the
densely packed conifer forests found here
today. This is in part because these places
were burned regularly, lit as a part of First
Nations land stewardship and by lightning
strikes. The fires, frequent but low in intensity,
rejuvenated the land and left only the
most fire-resistant mature trees, maintaining
a thriving, open grassland and shrub understory.
But nearly two centuries of colonial fire
suppression policies have transformed the
landscape into one that is now prone to wild,
uncontrollable infernos that burn hot, long
and often close to communities.
These blazes torch dry and drought-ridden
landscapes, threatening the ecosystems and
communities of the Rocky Mountain Trench
with severe destruction. Here and across the
continent, communities, industry, governments
and conservation groups like NCC are now
recognizing what local Indigenous Nations
and communities have known all along but
were for so long banned from acting on:
sometimes, forests need fire to thrive.
In the same way that cleaning your house
regularly is much more manageable than letting
the dust and dishes accumulate between
each spring cleaning, the ponderosa pine and
Resiliency is the ability to rebound from
disturbance — to provide ecosystem
services and continue to be a functioning
ecosystem in spite of the changes and
disturbances around and within it.
Virginia Hermanson, Kootenay Rockies Stewardship Coordinator, NCC
Douglas-fir forests in the Rocky Mountain
Trench are best managed through regular
maintenance — including low-intensity
wildfires or, where this isn’t yet possible,
what experts call “forest thinning.”
By saw and by fire, NCC and its partners
are using forest thinning at NCC’s Kootenay
River Ranch Conservation Area and elsewhere
in the region to replicate the impacts
that fires and pest infestations once had
on the landscape: clearing debris, opening
up space in the forest, killing off most of
the regenerating or juvenile trees, creating
dying, dead and decaying trees that offer
diverse habitat to local wildlife.
While thinning by hand is precise, it is
also time-consuming. That’s why NCC and
others are embracing more natural solutions,
like fire. Prescribed burns are intensely
planned and purposefully lit fires, designed
to replicate the impacts low-intensity burns
once had on the landscape. These exercises
Bringing fire back to the land
helps maintain the mixed forest
and grassland ecosystem at
Kootenay River Ranch, BC.
are monitored closely by land managers,
with the support of contract firefighters,
the BC Wildfire Service and other experts,
and they are challenging to pull off. In the
Rocky Mountain Trench, there are only six
to 10 days every year that offer favourable
conditions to conduct a burn, and even on
those days, plans can quickly change. Last
year, NCC and the BC Wildfire Service had
to snuff out a prescribed burn at Kootenay
River Ranch after a wind shift prevented further
burning. Nevertheless, the planning and
the waiting can lead to impressive results.
Shortly after they burn out, prescribed
burns in the Rocky Mountain Trench reveal
their impact. Pockets of seedlings emerge,
while areas nearby that first appear charred
soon have opportunistic flowers poke their
way through the black soils, mere weeks
afterwards. Saskatoons and antelope bitterbrush
resprout from their root collars,
offering high-nutrient food to foraging elk,
LEFT TO RIGHT: TRAVEL YES PLEASE/PROJECT FOREST; VIRGINIA HERMANSON/NCC STAFF; RICHARD KLAFKI/NCC STAFF.
10 SPRING 2025
natureconservancy.ca

CARYS RICHARDS.
deer and bighorn sheep. Newly dead and
decaying trees offer cozy homes for bugs
and birds like Williamson’s sapsucker and
Lewis’ woodpecker, two at-risk species in
the area. Life quickly returns.
For locals, forest thinning and prescribed
burning can also mean safety, because it
reduces fuel loads near their communities.
Typically, fires that do ignite in restored
areas burn on the ground at lower intensity,
and are less likely to jump roads, rivers and
open spaces to reach human infrastructure.
Forest thinning supports jobs, too. Local
contract crews are hired for prescribed burns,
and selective logging provides material that
can either be processed by local mills or
burned for heating during cold winters.
Beyond NCC, other local land managers
in the Rocky Mountain Trench, including the
Ktunaxa Nation and timber rights holders,
are also thinning their forests. While each
group may see their own upsides through the
perspectives they bring to the work, their
efforts ultimately benefit all life in the Rocky
Mountain Trench.
“I think people are seeing that more and
more, with the way we’re impacted by things
like natural disasters and disturbances in the
environment, we need to understand our role
in those events and strike a balance between
what is good for people and what is good for
the ecosystem as a whole,” Hermanson says.
People play a role in
forests’ resiliency
“We used to believe that we could put a
boundary around something and walk away
from it and it would last as is, in perpetuity,”
says Kate Lindsay, biologist and vice-president
of sustainability for the Forest Products
Association of Canada (FPAC). “As if you
could put a glass dome over something and
then it will stay the way it was forever. That’s
not reality.”
Forests, and the role they play in all our
lives, cannot just be considered as separate
from us.
Instead, Lindsay and many others in
the conservation and forestry sectors, have
come to recognize that “it’s really not about
removing humans from an ecosystem,” she
says. “Instead, let’s look at how humans form
a part of that ecosystem.”
Forests underpin many local economies,
from British Columbia to the Maritimes, and
Lindsay knows FPAC members have a vested
interest in their conservation. “We play a
role of ensuring the long-term sustainability
of the industry and all of the forests’ ecosystem
functions, too,” she says.
That’s why NCC works with Lindsay and
her peers in the forestry industry to enable
and encourage effective conservation actions.
As she puts it, this “helps grow the tent of
people that consider themselves champions
for conservation,” so that foresters and
other land users and managers will better
understand the impacts of their work on
ecosystems, communities and the future.
Showing them how they can do their work
for the benefit of nature and communities
Trembling aspen quickly reach great heights.
leads to a proud and engaged community of
people, recognizing the positive impacts they
can have on nature and each other.
Back in the Beaver Hills, this recognition
is already well-known. In 2016, the area was
designated an official Biosphere Reserve
by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Biospheres
(there are 19 in Canada) are meant
to recognize places “where people are living
in harmony with the environment,” according
to UNESCO. The designation also recognizes
that conservation and biodiversity are
linked to sustainable economic development
— that it is possible (and important) for
nature and people to benefit each other.
The restoration work at Golden Ranches
is a prime example. What was once a field is
growing into a forest and expanding habitat
connectivity in the heart of the Beaver Hills,
thanks to human hands. In turn, that forest
will shelter species and help clean the air
Schlemko and her neighbours breathe. Insects
will also live in that forest and each day make
their way to nearby farm fields to pollinate
crops, which in turn will feed the people who
planted the forest. And because of Schlemko
and her team’s careful planning, the work
on the ground here will have an impact that
extends across the broader landscape.
In this way, to truly see the whole forest is
to recognize it’s made up of trees and people
(and many other species), and we are all
interconnected. Whether we’re removing
trees in southeast BC or planting them in the
Beaver Hills, NCC is embracing the role we
all need to play in ensuring a resilient future
for forests and communities alike.1
natureconservancy.ca

SPECIES
PROFILE
Grizzly bear
One of Canada’s largest mammals, dependent on vast tracts of forests,
grasslands and tundra, faces threats as significant as its stature
JOHN E. MARRIOTT.
12 SPRING 2025
natureconservancy.ca

Creston Valley wetlands, BC.
APPEARANCE
Grizzly bears are one of
the largest mammals in Canada,
weighing from 100 to 400
kilograms. They have a dish-shaped
face, a muscular hump between
the front shoulders, and, typically,
a shaggy brown and
blonde-tipped coat.
STEVE OGLE.
THREATS
Grizzly bears depend on large tracts
of habitat to survive, and are at risk as
development moves deeper into wilderness
areas. It is important to conserve spaces for
bears to roam freely. In 2012, the Committee on the
Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada assessed
the western population of the grizzly
bear as a species of special concern — meaning
that the species could become endangered
or threatened through a combination
of biological characteristics
and threats.
RANGE
In Canada, the largest
population of grizzly bears is
found in British Columbia, with the
remainder in the Prairie provinces
and the three territories. Their
global range has declined
by more than half since
the 1800s.
HABITAT
Forests, from sea level to
high-altitude, provide crucial
habitat for this species. Grizzlies range
across alpine, boreal and temperate
rain forests, as well as grasslands and
tundra. The bears’ diverse habitat
reflects their omnivore diet, which
includes both plants and
animals.
What is NCC doing to
safeguard habitat for
this species?
NCC protects grizzly bear habitat
throughout Western Canada, and
aims to ensure that large tracts
supporting grizzlies remain intact.
In British Columbia, grizzlies are known
to reside on many NCC lands, including
Darkwoods, the Elk Valley Heritage
Conservation Area, Ellerslie Creek and
the Koeye Estuary.
NCC is working to maintain important
corridors that allow safe passage
between habitats for bears and other
wide-ranging animals. The Luxor
Linkage and Geddes Creek conservation
areas in the Rocky Mountain Trench,
north of Edgewater, BC, are great
examples. These lands stretch from the
Columbia River wetlands into the Rocky
Mountains, connecting to Kootenay
National Park and provincial land.
These lands are known to be within the
most important linkage zone in the area
for bears moving across the valley.1
natureconservancy.ca
SPRING 2025 13

PROJECT
UPDATES
Mauricie Region, QC.
Wood turtle
1
Community-driven
conservation success
MAURICIE REGION , QUEBEC
Thanks to the support of 22 donors and public funding, the Nature
Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has ensured the future of a vital natural
corridor, aiding at-risk wood turtles to move safely between habitats near
La Mauricie National Park. The area includes wetlands, flood plains and forests,
providing essential ecosystem services like carbon storage, flood prevention and
water filtration, and safe passage for wildlife.
Consisting of more than 270 hectares of biodiverse habitats in the Lake
Perchaude and Shawinigan River areas in Quebec, this newly conserved area
is an example of community-driven conservation success. Local nature lovers
raised $650,000, which was matched by the Government of Quebec and
the Government of Canada.
3
THANK YOU!
Your support has made these
projects possible. Learn more at
natureconservancy.ca/where-we-work.
1
2
LA HALTE STUDIO. INSET: MARC SAUVÉ.
14 SPRING 2025
natureconservancy.ca

Supporting Indigenous-led conservation
NCC welcomes and celebrates the changing dynamics of conservation
in Canada and around the world. Indigenous leadership is inspiring us
all to work differently together and restore healthy relationships with
the land to build resilient landscapes for nature and people to thrive. As
a leading conservation organization, NCC also has a unique opportunity
to share our skills and capacity to assist Indigenous communities and
Nations to achieve their conservation and stewardship goals.
Find out how NCC is
supporting Indigenous-led
conservation from coast to
coast to coast.
2
From barren ground to lush forest
GRAND MANAN, NEW BRUNSWICK
The Grand Manan Migratory Bird Nature Reserve in New Brunswick is
undergoing a groundbreaking rewilding project to transform a former gravel
pit into a thriving coastal forest. Using an innovative technique, the project
replicates natural pit-and-mound formations to enhance soil moisture retention
and capture windblown seeds. In addition, 4,000 native trees are being planted to
accelerate habitat restoration.
A bird-assisted restoration experiment is also underway, featuring installed snags
(standing dead trees) to attract birds and promote seed dispersal through their droppings.
This approach aims to regenerate critical habitat for nearly 200 bird species,
aiding conservation for generations to come.
Colleen and Dale Adams.
Native tree seedlings
planted at Grand Manan
Nature Reserve, NB.
3
Working landscape
inspires conservation
SOUTHWEST ALBERTA
TOP TO BOTTOM: JESSICA MAMAKEESICK (ROBINSON); DALE ADAMS; AARON DOWDING/NCC STAFF.
Aconservation agreement between
Colleen and Dale Adams and
NCC is now ensuring the future of
128 hectares of Prairie grasslands in southern
Alberta. Located near the U.S. border,
Adams Ranch will remain a working cattle
ranch while maintaining vital habitats and a
link to nearby lands that, together, allow for
a connected corridor for wildlife movement.
This partnership showcases leadership in
conservation, with the Adams family’s dedication
inspiring other landowners to protect
grasslands. Supported by many private
donors, the Government of Canada, through
the Natural Heritage Conservation Program,
along with the Weston Family Foundation,
through the Weston Family Prairie Grasslands
Initiative, the project contributes to NCC’s
Prairie Grasslands Action Plan, safeguarding
vital ecosystems and ensuring wildlife
corridors for future generations.1
Learn more at prairiegrasslands.ca.
natureconservancy.ca
SPRING 2025 15

FORCE FOR
NATURE
Our
need
for
nature
Wyle Baoween wants everyone to
experience the transfomative power of
being connected to the natural world
ALBERT LAW.
16 SPRING 2025
natureconservancy.ca

When Wyle Baoween first arrived in Canada,
he immediately noticed the sheer amount
of green. The mountains he could see rising
above his new home of Victoria, BC, were
blanketed by dense forests.
ALBERT LAW.
At the University of Victoria, where he was studying for his masters
of business administration, he marveled at the lush vegetation and
abundant wildlife that made the campus feel innately alive. Even
the shady paths glowed with a sort of vibrancy from the ferns and
mosses covering every available surface.
Wyle, a civil engineer-turned-CEO, immigrated to Canada in
2011. He is originally from Yemen, a country with an arid climate
that supports far more desert than forest. This stark shift in landscape
fascinated him.
“Where I grew up, we were connected to nature, but our nature
was different,” he says. “There weren’t mountains and forests and
bears and cougars.”
Wyle is the founder and CEO of Inclusivity, a Vancouver-based
consulting firm that helps organizations champion equity, diversity
and inclusion (EDI) in their workplaces by building stronger, more
inclusive teams. Motivated by a desire to change the world around
him and an endless optimism, Wyle’s data-driven work focuses on
people: what they need, what they want and how to make sure they
feel welcome.
As Wyle’s love of nature in Canada grew, he wanted to help
other newcomers have the chance to get out into the mountains
and forests around Vancouver, where he now lives. It’s because of
this that he has organized events to help members of the Yemeni
diaspora experience the natural world around them. Connecting
with the natural world around us is transformative, he says, but
there are still barriers keeping people from discovering these places.
Connecting with the natural world around us is
transformative but there are still barriers keeping people
from discovering these places. Through bringing in
diverse perspectives, NCC can make conservation, and
nature itself, a more welcoming place for all.
The idea of how different people approach and interact with
nature is something he thinks about often. In 2020, Wyle’s company,
Inclusivity, began working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada
(NCC) to conduct an EDI analysis of the organization’s work. He
quickly realized his passion for NCC’s mission, which led him to join
NCC’s British Columbia Regional Advisory Board in 2023.
“I get really passionate about bringing in people who are different
from the typical profile you’d expect,” Wyle says. “I want NCC to be
the leader in making this field more diverse, inclusive and accessible
to all Canadians. I want to see a vast array of perspectives included
in this work.”
“Representation and exposure are the first things that come
to my mind when thinking about diversifying conservation. If you
look at the photos and you don’t see yourself, you don’t think that
field [of conservation] is yours,” Wyle says.
“I think people want to see themselves in
order for them to feel welcomed.”
It’s important to also acknowledge the
colonial history of conservation, he says.
Indigenous Peoples were displaced from
their traditional lands and removed from the
western conservation narrative in Canada.
NCC’s commitment to working with Indigenous
Nations and communities is part of
Reconciliation.
NCC is already making big moves in that
direction, Wyle says, such as amplifying diverse
voices in its communications. Through
bringing in diverse perspectives, NCC can
make conservation, and nature itself, a more
welcoming place for all.
Since moving to Canada, he has grown to
love hiking, camping and spending joyful
summer days swimming in freshwater lakes
with his family. Exploring the natural world
around him has deepened his connection to
his new home and community.
“When people go out and explore and
connect, I just feel like it’s transformative,”
he says. “Exactly like what happened
to me.”1
natureconservancy.ca
SPRING 2025 17

CLOSE
ENCOUNTERS
A forest for all
By Gen Pintel, NCC communications specialist in Ontario
“B
ear!” My partner warned me, as
I walked quietly with my head
down after a long, hot day of hiking
through a provincial park in southern
Ontario. I didn’t see the American black
bear that ambled out of the bushes a few
metres ahead. We had all been startled.
The bear ran ahead, while my partner and
I slowly retreated. Suddenly, two cubs
rolled out from the same bushes and ran
toward their mom. The family took a few
moments to look back at us then disappeared
up the trail, leaving me with a pounding
heart and an adrenaline spike.
After several minutes, we headed toward
the park’s exit, which happened to be in the
same direction as the sow and her cubs
had been heading. Distracted by birds, we
detoured along another trail to observe a
northern flicker before I stopped and pointed
toward a tree off-trail. The same bear
was there, staring back at us. She ducked
back into the trees; she was making sure
the coast was clear to cross the trail and
lead her cubs to shrubs filled with berries.
Knowing we needed to give this family
space, we immediately headed back to
our car. As I looked back, I was relieved to
make out the far-away figures of mom and
cubs now in the fields, eating berries.
Ontario is home to the second-largest
American black bear population in North
America. Bears need continuous forest
habitat to accommodate their wide-ranging
territories, as they search for food and
denning sites. In turn, bears play important
roles for biodiversity in those same forests.
As they forage the land, their droppings
disperse plant seeds. As they hunt, they help
control prey populations.
Encounters like this one remind us
how much space these species need to
thrive and how crucial these forested areas
are for both bears and humans. While this
was my first bear encounter in Ontario,
and a closer one than I ever would have
expected, it likely won’t be my last.1
ASHLEY BARRON.
18 SPRING 2025 natureconservancy.ca

YOUR
IMPACT
Safeguarding
Prairie heritage in
Saskatchewan
Conserving grasslands is crucial for building resilient
landscapes. Thanks to the support of our donors and
partners, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)
has ensured the future of vital grassland habitat that
supports species at risk, including burrowing owl, chestnut-collared
longspur, ferruginous hawk and swift fox.
The Zen-Ridge conservation project has been expanded
by an additional 1,040 hectares, bringing the total area
to 1,235 hectares in southwest Saskatchewan.
Grasslands are one of the world’s most endangered
ecosystems, filtering water, helping to mitigate the
risk of drought and floods, and storing billions of
tonnes of carbon. The Zen-Ridge area, which has long
provided nourishment to communities and remains a
cornerstone of Saskatchewan’s economy, will continue
to be used for cattle grazing to maintain the health of
grasslands and support the local economy. The project
is part of NCC’s Prairie Grasslands Action Plan, which
aims to conserve 500,000 hectares by 2030.
Learn more at prairiegrasslands.ca.
KAITLIN RICHARDSON/NCC STAFF.
Hiking in the
Nor’Westers, ON.
Connecting
corridors around
Thunder Bay
Natural corridors along the Black Bay Peninsula and
near Big Trout Bay on Lake Superior are important
for wide-ranging wildlife like moose and black bear.
These large, intact and connected systems allow
species to disperse to habitats where they can reproduce,
feed and find shelter in a changing world. They
also help ensure a resilient landscape, which provides
important ecosystem services for communities in
northern Ontario, by filtering air and water, mitigating
flood risk and storing vast amounts of carbon.
The Nor’Westers project — 935 hectares of thriving
forests and wetlands in the Nor’Wester Mountain
range near Thunder Bay, Ontario — now adds to this
range of connected corridors.
This conservation success is a testament to the
collaborative support from donors, foundations and
governments, including the Government of Canada’s
Natural Heritage Conservation Program and Province
of Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership.

Forests
breathe
life.
Canada’s forests are under unprecedented threat from
climate change and biodiversity loss. Our way of life and
ability to thrive on Earth are at stake, but there is hope. Nature
is, and always will be, the solution. Forests clean the air we
breathe and the water we drink; they sustain our health and
wellness, our economies, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Now, it’s our turn to care for them.
Thank you for all you do for nature in Canada!
Donate today to conserve an additional 1 million hectares of
nature across Canada by 2030. Your gift will breathe life back
into Canada’s forests.
Protect forests. Protect life.
natureconservancy.ca/forests

Nature is
powerful.
Your legacy
can be, too.
In the Happy Valley Forest, just north of
the Greater Toronto Area, sits a trail-side
plaque honouring Roberta Langtry,
who left a significant bequest to the Nature
Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in her Will.
Margaret Kelch stops to read it every time
she visits. From the plaque, she learned that
Langtry was a teacher who invested her
savings that, eventually, became a wonderful
gift to NCC. Happy Valley Forest, the largest
remaining intact deciduous forest on the Oak
Ridges Moraine, is one of Kelch’s favourite
places to visit.
“This was someone who was able to leave
much of her savings to something she cared
deeply about,” says Kelch of Langtry. “Her
generosity and passion spoke to me.”
Kelch first learned about NCC in 2005 while
volunteering to count the fall hawk migration
in Toronto’s High Park. There, she was
introduced to NCC’s Ontario Regional
Board Chair, and this led her to a decade
of service on NCC’s Ontario and national
boards, including three years as the
Ontario chair.
“As a birder, you quickly
learn the importance of
preserving healthy habitats
and providing resilient
landscapes for wildlife and
species to thrive. To have an
organization that is entirely
focused on determining what
habitats need protection and then
putting in place plans to do that is incredibly
appealing to me,” she says.
Over the years, Margaret has contributed
her time and expertise to NCC and made
annual donations. In 2012, she attended a tax
Margaret Kelch
planning seminar hosted by NCC that inspired
her to rethink her own philanthropy.
Kelch chose to include a bequest in her Will
to support something she cares
deeply about: NCC’s conservation
efforts in Ontario. And while
she acknowledges that
a planned gift allows her to
donate more than might be
possible during her lifetime,
she also knows that even
a modest contribution can
make a big difference.
“When people read this, I hope they see
an average, hardworking individual with hope
for the future,” she says. “You don’t need piles
of cash; just a belief that we can all make
a valuable contribution.”
Nature is powerful. Your legacy can be, too.

How do I claim
a charitable donation
tax credit?
To claim your charitable donation tax
credit, follow these steps:
Ask an
advisor
We asked a few advisors from
The Donor Motivation Program®
what questions their clients ask
the most.
1. Donate to a
registered charity
Ensure the organization is registered
with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
What’s the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit?
A tax deduction reduces your taxable income; meaning the amount of money that you
are taxed is lowered. For example, if you earn $50,000 and claim a $5,000 deduction, your
taxable income becomes $45,000.
2. Keep your receipts
The charity will issue you an official
donation receipt.
A tax credit, on the other hand, directly reduces the amount of tax you owe. For instance, if
your tax bill is $2,000 and you claim a $500 tax credit, your tax bill drops to $1,500. Charitable
donations in Canada qualify for tax credits, not deductions, offering direct savings on your taxes.
What if my executor lives in another province?
Having an executor who lives out of province is legally allowed but can present logistical
challenges. For example, your executor might face delays in accessing financial institutions
or handling court-related matters. In Quebec, the executor is called a liquidator and they
are responsible for settling your estate.
3. File your taxes
Include the total eligible donation
amount on your tax return under the
section for charitable donations.
If your liquidator lives outside Quebec, they might need to post a bond or security, unless your
Will specifically waives this requirement. To simplify matters, consider appointing a co-liquidator
within Quebec or ensuring the Will explicitly addresses potential out-of-province complications.
I live in Quebec. Is my spouse automatically the beneficiary
of my estate?
No, your spouse is not automatically the beneficiary of your estate in Quebec. Under Quebec
law, your estate is distributed according to your Will. If you don’t have a Will, the Civil Code
of Quebec determines the distribution of your assets. In this case, your spouse would share
your estate with your children or other legal heirs, depending on your family situation.
To ensure your spouse receives what you intend, you must clearly name them as a beneficiary
in your Will. Consulting a notary or estate lawyer is recommended to ensure your estate
planning aligns with your wishes.
4. Use the CRA’s My Account
portal (optional)
You can upload your receipts online for
easier processing.
For Quebec residents, you’ll need to
report your donations separately on
your Quebec provincial tax return to
access the additional provincial credit.

Maximize your impact while
optimizing tax benefits
How much can I donate to charity each year?
There’s no set limit to how much you can give, but federal tax laws place limits on how
much of your donation is eligible for tax credits in a given year.
You can claim tax credits on donations up to 75 per cent of your net income annually.
For large gifts, any unused portion can be carried forward and claimed over the next
five years. In special circumstances, you may be able to claim against 100 per cent of
your income. When planning your donations, consider your current and future income,
and consult a financial advisor to optimize your giving strategy.
Can I donate my tax-free savings account (TFSA)?
While you can’t transfer a TFSA directly to a charity, you can still use it as a powerful tool
for charitable giving.
In your lifetime, you can withdraw funds from your TFSA tax-free and donate the cash
to a charity. This provides a donation receipt for the amount given.
You can name a charity as the beneficiary of your TFSA. The charity will receive the
funds tax-free, and your estate will receive a tax credit for the donation. For Quebec
residents, you can name a charity as a beneficiary of your TFSA in your Will.
Is there an estate tax in Canada?
Canada does not have an estate tax, but there are taxes on certain assets when
you pass away.
Upon death, your estate is deemed to have sold all its assets, and any capital gains are
taxed. For example, if you have investments or a second property that has appreciated
in value, your estate may face significant tax liabilities.
Charitable donations made through your Will can offset these taxes. Donations provide
tax credits that reduce the taxes owed by your estate, allowing more of your wealth to
support loved ones and causes you cherish.
What's is best to donate:
cash or investments?
Well, it depends. Both options can be
beneficial, but donating investments
often offers additional tax advantages.
Cash donations: These are straightforward
and flexible. You will receive a charitable
donation receipt, which can reduce income
taxes. Federal and provincial tax credits
combined can offset up to 50 per cent (or
more) of the donated amount.
Donating investments: Gifting publicly
traded securities (stocks, bonds, mutual
funds) directly to a registered charity is
highly tax-efficient. When you donate
investments that have increased in value,
you avoid paying capital gains tax on the
appreciation, while still receiving a donation
receipt for the full fair market value.
Choosing between cash and investments
depends on your financial situation and
goals. If you hold appreciated securities,
donating them could provide a greater
tax benefit.
Thank you to Jessica Tambasco, Heather Borrelli and Jeff Evans from The Donor Motivation Program® for answering our questions.
LEAVING A LEGACY FOR NATURE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER
Through our partnership with Epilogue Wills, we are pleased to
offer you the opportunity to create your Will for free.
While there is no obligation to remember the Nature Conservancy
of Canada in your Will, please consider the incredible difference
your gift could make in conserving habitats and protecting species.
For more information about legacy giving,
please contact Jackie Mersereau at
jackie.mersereau@natureconservancy.ca.
Scan code to get started >>

A legacy that
lasts forever?
Nature makes
it possible.
It’s a big promise but it’s true. When
you include the Nature Conservancy of
Canada in your Will, you ensure Canada’s
priceless landscapes and species are
protected – for everyone, forever.
Order your Free Legacy
Information Booklet today!
Call Jackie at 1.877.231.3552 x2
or visit naturelegacy.ca