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The Ontario Biodiversity Council is a group of volunteers from environmental and conservation organizations, government, academia, industry, and Indigenous communities and organizations. Since its creation in 2005, Council has worked to guide and drive the implementation of Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy.
We recognize that no single government, organization, or sector can do it alone and that we must work together to make the changes required to conserve the biodiversity found in our province.
“Protecting the diversity of life on Earth requires broad societal consensus and participation. It’s a challenge not just for some of us, but for all of us.”
Ontario Biodiversity Strategy, 2005
Everyone has a role to play if we are to succeed in conserving the wealth of biodiversity in Ontario, both now and in the future.
The actions and targets contained in Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy provide a framework for coordinating biodiversity conservation across the province, but much more is possible.
In addition to the actions we take as individuals, this document should inspire Ontario’s sectors and groups to think creatively about biodiversity and to take responsibility for conserving it.
Action or implementation plans are road maps for progress created by industry, government, business, organizations, community groups, municipalities, educational institutions and others. These plans adopt the vision and goals outlined in Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy and identify specific actions to help achieve them.
Create an implementation plan and become a champion for achieving the targets and actions in Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy. Together, we can identify and implement solutions that will protect what sustains us.
There are many different ways to conserve biodiversity. It takes a variety of people and approaches to protect all aspects of biodiversity. Though we hear a lot about environmental and conservation organizations who work to conserve and protect nature, there are many other groups that are addressing this issue in their own unique ways.
Youth will inherit the earth and will be the most impacted by the decisions we make and actions we take today. Many young people believe they are part of the solution to reverse the damage being done to biodiversity, and youth-led activism is growing. Youth are actively increasing the ways they engage and participate to ensure their voices and opinions are heard. Programs like the Canadian Youth Biodiversity Network and the Emerging Leaders for Biodiversity (ELB) are amplifying young voices in the work for a more sustainable future.
Everyone can participate in science! Community science initiatives are a great way for anyone with an interest in nature to participate in collecting and sharing information to help get a better understanding of what is happening on the landscape. Apps and events, like iNaturalist and local bioblitz have been developed over the last decade to help identify and monitor plants and animal species. These programs help empower anyone to be a part of research efforts, regardless of their background or geographic area.
With a better understanding of how biodiversity underpins our lives, faith-based organizations are taking it upon themselves to promote sustainable living and restoration of ecosystems. The UN decade on ecosystem restoration 2021-2030 is exploring the role of faith actors in restoring ecosystems through their Faith for Earth Initiative, seeking to harness their enormous social and political influence. In Ontario there are a number of different faith-based groups who are working to be good stewards of the land and deepen their connection between their faith and a healthy natural world.
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