Twenty years of success and a vision for the future

Pioneering and Proactive

A cornerstone of much of what we do is our deep wildlife expertise and our groundbreaking scientific research on key species, including wolverines, caribou, bats, lake sturgeon, whales and birds. We combine rigorous assessments of threats to these species and strategies to improve population health with innovative research methods that allow us to build a comprehensive understanding of their needs. This knowledge is then translated into actionable policy and land-use decisions.

For example, we use acoustic monitoring to study whales, seals, and bats, relying on passive listening to understand their movements and behaviour. Special transmitters and receivers help us track the movements of lake sturgeon in remote northern rivers, while tiny backpack transmitters from blackpoll warblers at the end of their epic migrations reveal insights into these birds’ transcontinental journeys.

Our work often takes us to extreme environments: we have spent thousands of hours in small planes finding the most important areas for marine mammals, wolverines and caribou, and live-trapped wolverines in dense forests to attach GPS collars for more detailed data. In the Yukon, we’ve studied how woodpeckers use burned-over areas to gain a better understanding of post-fire ecology in an era of increasing climate-driven wildfires.

In 2016, when the global Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) standard was launched, Canada was one of the first countries to establish a national coordination group, with WCS Canada at the forefront of a complex identification process involving thousands of experts and knowledge holders. To date, this collaborative effort has identified nearly 1,000 sites across the country that are critical to national and global biodiversity. Tailored to Canada’s unique context, KBAs have quickly become an essential tool for guiding conservation efforts, focusing attention on areas with exceptional attributes such as globally rare species and large wildlife aggregations.

We have brought critical attention to the essential role of peatlands, elevating northern peatlands onto the global stage as indispensable to climate and biodiversity solutions. These carbon-rich wetlands, which store 20-30% of the global terrestrial carbon stock, are among the most vital ecosystems for climate action. Canada is home to one-quarter of the world’s peatlands, holding an estimated 150 billion tonnes of carbon. Our research has highlighted weak protections and ongoing degradation threatening these ecosystems, and we are actively working to develop solutions that improve the conservation and stewardship of climate-critical peatlands as cornerstone of effective climate action.

Innovation and the next generation

Whether it is developing new ways of tracking and treating white-nose syndrome or using underwater acoustic monitors – and now a sea-going drone - to track the responses of seals and whales to ship noise in the Arctic, we have led the way in developing new research approaches.

But innovation depends on people, which is why mentoring the next generation of field scientists has become a key pillar of our work. Through initiatives like our Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowship program and by welcoming and learning from early-career scientists in our workforce, we have built a strong role in supporting much-needed emerging talent. Our efforts have helped launch successful careers across academia, government, civil society, and Indigenous-led conservation, which, in turn, helps to extend our influence and reach as we seek to drive change.

Through the visionary leadership of the late Cheryl Chetkiewicz, who recognized and pushed for advances in how scientists and non-governmental organizations work meaningfully with Indigenous individuals and communities, WCS Canada’s approach has evolved significantly over the past two decades. Cheryl’s advocacy emphasized the importance of respecting and recognizing Indigenous Knowledge systems while fostering relationships built on trust and reciprocity—an approach that is especially critical in the era of Reconciliation. Today, her legacy is reflected in our collaborations with communities, from assessing the health of vital wild food sources such as seals, salmon, and sturgeon to planning for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.

These initiatives and more reflect our commitment to ensuring that we are equipped to address challenges for the long term, while working to increase respect for nature and understanding of the need for new approaches to resource development and conservation at all levels of our society.

What’s next for WCS Canada?

The last two decades have seen immeasurable change in the conservation landscape, both in Canada and around the world. We are proud of our last 20 years of accomplishments, but there remains much work ahead.

Development pressures continue to grow in the Canadian north. Habitats that are home to endemic and critically endangered species remain at risk. And the inextricable link between biodiversity loss and climate change is still not well understood by decision makers or the public.

Systemic, transformative change is needed to make a difference for wildlife, wild places, and people across Canada. We will continue to drive it.

Yours in muddy boots,

Justina Ray

WCS Canada President and Senior Scientist