A Rare Opportunity to Support Indigenous-led Conservation in Canada

The Kaska Nation has spent years creating a imaginative and prescient for a proposed Indigenous Protected and Conserved Space (IPCA) in Northwest British Columbia referred to as Dene Okay’éh Kusān, which suggests At all times Will Be There within the Kaska language. This awe-inspiring 7.6-million-acre space is B.C.’s largest intact piece of wilderness—bigger than the U.S. state of Massachusetts! It’s dwelling to historic forests and rivers which can be vital habitat for a whole bunch of species of migratory birds together with long-distance vacationers like Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson’s Warbler, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Widespread Nighthawk to not point out grizzly bears, caribou, and different species-at-risk. You may study extra in regards to the birds of this area here. 

Defending this huge space means parts of ten main watersheds in addition to vital habitat for tens of millions of birds and different wildlife will stay secure from dangerous industrial growth. It additionally fulfills the Kaska Nation’s imaginative and prescient of wholesome lands supporting wholesome folks and communities for generations to come back. Plus, the area acts as a pure local weather answer storing tonnes of carbon in its peatlands, forests, and wetlands.  

Proper now, the B.C. authorities is deciding whether or not or to not defend this spectacular wilderness in Canada. They’re asking for enter from the general public earlier than August 4, 2026. This can be a uncommon alternative to assist Indigenous-led conservation in Canada for the advantage of folks, birds and the planet. 

You may participate in the survey here.

Suggestions for taking the survey:

The very first thing it’s possible you’ll discover is that there are many maps and different info to learn by means of—don’t worry about this! Be at liberty to skim by means of and push the blue “Subsequent” button thrice to land on the primary query, which is:
Is there particular suggestions you wish to share referring to the stability between conservation and useful resource growth in Kaska Ancestral Territory? 
Steered response (be happy to customise!) 
I totally assist defending Dene Okay’éh Kusān in its entirety. This safety is important to profitable conservation outcomes for migratory birds and different wildlife. The boundaries of Dene Okay’éh Kusān had been strategically drawn to incorporate areas the place conservation values are excessive and industrial potential is low. That makes it a low-conflict alternative to guard nature with minimal impression on trade.
The stability between conservation and useful resource growth in Kaska Ancestral Territory ought to stay weighted in the direction of the long-term safety of ecosystems and Kaska cultural heritage. Dene Okay’éh Kusān is how that stability could be achieved.

Push “Subsequent” once more to achieve query two:
Is there particular suggestions you wish to share referring to imaginative and prescient for a conservation economic system in Dene Okay’éh Kusān?  
Steered response (be happy to customise!) 
I am happy that Dene Okay’éh Kusān shall be protected against industrial actions like mining, forestry, and oil and gasoline. I assist Dene Okay’éh Kusān changing into a world-class protected space for all folks to discover and revel in. It opens up thrilling financial alternatives for Kaska to welcome out of doors fanatics who will come to fish, hunt, hike, and camp within the new conservancy. I assist a conservation economic system that’s fastidiously deliberate and managed — one which lets folks expertise true wildness, sustains an abundance of wildlife within the face of local weather change, and protects these values for future generations.
It is encouraging to see the conservation economic system valued as a part of B.C.’s financial future, not simply useful resource extraction. A nature-based, out of doors economic system is a crucial a part of the province’s long-term technique.

Push “Subsequent” once more to reply the third query:
Is there every other suggestions that you simply wish to share with the venture workforce in regards to the proposed Dene Okay’éh Kusān? 
Steered response (be happy to customise!) 
Negotiations between B.C. and Kaska have already decreased the scale of Dene Okay’éh Kusān by roughly 20%. I am calling for no additional reductions, and I strongly assist defending each space throughout the present proposed boundaries, which thankfully nonetheless captures a lot of the highest precedence conservation values.
Dene Okay’éh Kusān is without doubt one of the final main intact, unprotected landscapes in North America. Now could be the time for B.C. to prioritize conservation and finalize this venture earlier than the tip of 2026. Defending areas adjoining to Dene Okay’éh Kusān should even be thought-about throughout the broader community of northern land-use plans to keep up vital wildlife connectivity corridors throughout the panorama. 
The scale of Dene Okay’éh Kusān is roughly 3% of B.C.’s complete land space. This safety is vital to assembly the province’s purpose of defending 30% of its land and water by 2030.

After you have stuffed in all three questions in Half 1, you’ll be able to skip forward to Half 3 by pushing the blue “Subsequent” button 9 extra instances, or till you see the part labelled “Half 3 – About you”
Rapidly fill in some demographic info—if you happen to reside within the U.S. you’ll be able to go away the Postal Code and Province/Area clean. And with that you’re completed. You have got simply helped defend one of many greatest, wildest locations in BC! Thanks!