Building a Landscape Conservation Approach

The Centre for Land Conservation has released new research exploring how Regional Conservation and Climate Partnerships could accelerate conservation efforts across Canada. This comprehensive working paper examines the growth and success of Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCPs) in the United States and analyzes existing partnerships operating in Canada to determine their potential for supporting whole-landscape conservation approaches. 

The research is particularly relevant for southern regions of Canada, where private landowners and community-based conservation organizations often work in overlapping areas. Through detailed analysis of partnership models and consultation with similar initiatives across North America, the paper identifies key gaps and challenges in forming and maintaining effective regional partnerships, while highlighting the characteristics that drive success. 

A significant contribution of this research is its recommendation to expand the traditional RCP model to directly incorporate climate objectives, proposing a new framework for Regional Conservation and Climate Partnerships (RCCPs). The findings demonstrate that RCCPs warrant further investigation for broader application across Canada, with the potential to significantly expand both geographic reach and conservation impact. 

The research affirms that fostering the establishment and development of these partnerships could be transformative for Canada’s conservation landscape, offering a proven pathway to strengthen and accelerate conservation outcomes at scale.