Canada has a goal to conserve 30% of its land by 2030. It’s known as the “30-30 Target.” One of the paths to meeting this target is to support First Nations communities’ efforts to exercise their responsibilities towards the land, waters, and ice of their traditional territories under agreements for what are collectively called Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). These agreements are typically on-the-ground, community-based stewardship initiatives and generally begin with reconciliation agreements and guardian programs. The federal government has committed $340 million to furthering this goal. Read more here.
Every guardian program is led by a Nation or an alliance of Nations. Guardian programs can be training programs that increase the skills needed to write and carry out land stewardship plans, develop governance models and strengthen culture. IPCAs can develop different levels of protection and permanence based on the Nation’s community plans and vision. It’s common for these IPCAs to support traditional harvesting practices, that in many instances enhance biodiversity and carbon sequestration. The guardian project designation can be a critical component of carbon projects, which require stewardship capacity, oversight and feet on the ground to monitor and ensure permanent protection.
In BC, IPCAs are already established and include Qat’muk (Jumbo Valley), Kitasu Lugyeks (Klemtu), Naa’Waiya’Summ Indigenous Coastal Gardens (Tofino) and T’eqt’aqtn (Kanaka Bar).
Here’s an example of IPCA based on a guardian program.