Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas

While the time frame for the completion of this report did not permit extensive engagement beyond the private land conservation community, officials of one Indigenous government actively developing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) initiatives shared that the concepts around land ownership and associated protection within an IPCA are still evolving. Who owns land within IPCAs, how such land is managed and how it is legally protected were cited as matters of importance and under consideration within the context of an IPCA. In this regard, the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices, performance assurance, stewardship and legal defence were all of interest and considered as potentially relevant to Indigenous organizations and communities that are advancing IPCAs within their areas. The officials of the Indigenous government recommended that further consideration and discussion of these matters occur at the national level within the IPCA network.