Natural resource development
We advocate for a big-picture approach that considers cumulative impacts.
From the start of European colonization, Canada’s economy has been focused on natural resource extraction. It’s long been assumed that any negative impacts could be managed, and that public land could serve many users at once. Climate change adds to these impacts, putting more stress on wild species and ecosystems. This results in cumulative impacts managed by a fragmented policy framework.
Our solutions
Mining
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We’re advocating for a more holistic approach to determining when and where mining for minerals may be appropriate; and how Canada can ensure greater long-term benefits for people - particularly the Indigenous communities whose homelands will be most affected.
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We’ve created a tool to help Indigenous communities in northern Ontario find and respond to the mineral claims that affect them, along with a dedicated website for information on the Ring of Fire region.
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We are lending our expertise to review project-level impact assessments and permitting, and providing technical support to mining project restoration and assessment.
Forestry
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We’re contributing our expertise to improve forestry laws and policies, from local to national.
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We’re advocating for better management of beetle-killed and burned forests. These areas are home to a surprising diversity of birds, bats and insects.
Shipping
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We’re suggesting several ways to reduce the impact of growing ship traffic on whales and seals, before the Arctic Ocean becomes a busy shipping shortcut.
Hydro development
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With Moose Cree First Nation, we’re looking at the combined impact of hydropower dams and drier conditions on river levels for lake sturgeon.
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We assessed the potential impacts and risks of proposed hydroelectric dams in Yukon on fish and their habitats.
Cumulative impacts
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We provide technical support, new modeling, and information on managing cumulative impacts of development and road access in formal land use planning processes.
Projects
Ring of Fire
More than minerals at stake
Learning from Lake Sturgeon
Big fish need healthy rivers.
Documenting the impacts of underwater noise
Addressing impacts from shipping and climate change in the western Arctic
Stories and op-eds
Canada cannot afford to miss the biodiversity train
KBA Canada Technical Coordinator Chloé Debyser outlines the risks posed to 18 Key Biodiversity Areas by the proposed Alto high speed rail line, and how Canada's recently announced Nature Strategy already has the tools for common sense solutionsChloé Debyser
Demystifying the Mitigation Hierarchy
A practical guide to one of the most important, yet misunderstood, frameworks in conservation and development decision making.Justina Ray, Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne
Women in conservation: Finding balance, voice, and impact
To mark International Women's Day, we sat down with Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, Co-Director of our Northern Boreal Mountains program to talk about her career to date and what's kept her in the sector.Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle
Media coverage
Carney’s Push to Fund Industry Imperils Canada’s Nature Promises
‘Better Decisions Earlier, Not Weaker Decisions Faster’: Canada’s Permitting Overhaul Faces Pushback
Ring of Fire Push Pits Critical Minerals Against Carbon Peatlands, Indigenous Rights
Press releases
National Peatland Strategy proposed to protect climate-critical ecosystems amid extraction and industrial development rush
WCS Canada has today unveiled a proposed National Peatland Strategy, calling on federal, provincial, and territorial governments to adopt urgent measures to safeguard Canada’s most carbon-rich ecosystems.
New proposal from Ontario prioritizing business over biodiversity snuck out before public holiday
Just before the Easter public holiday, the Ontario government introduced new omnibus legislation: the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025.
