Healthy Landscape Strategy

The Challenge

We face the triple threat of extinction; climate and health crises locally and globally due to habitat loss.

In the Carolinian Zone we have less than half the habitat recommended for healthy landscapes. This dire situation affects wildlife, water and way of life for 25% of Canadians.

The Solution

Everyone can quickly grow healthy habitat everywhere with native plants – from parks to farms to lawns to infrastructure. Native plants heal the landscape in the spirit and practice of reconciliation; create green jobs, boost natural capital and connect communities.

Extensive research indicates that healthy habitat is the backbone of healthy landscapes, healthy people and a healthy economy. It can reverse the extinction crisis, mitigate disease risk and is 30% of the climate solution for a win-win-win solution.

Accelerating Action

Carolinian Canada connects Canada’s largest ecosystem recovery network to reverse the trend of habitat loss in Canada’s biodiversity hotspot. North America’s longest-running ecoregional network includes First Nations, government, community, business, academia, social enterprise and thousands who care about a healthy environment.

The Coalition strategically advances a shared vision for healthy, resilient landscapes by:

• Centering Indigenous knowledge and leadership in everything we do
• Being a leader in innovative conservation financing in Canada
• Growing the Coalition community
• Setting healthy landscape targets and tracking success

Collective Impact

The Carolinian Zone is the most diverse and fragile ecoregion of Canada. Collectively, we are saving local:

• Wildlife – 500+ rare and endangered species
• Water – drinking water for 11 million people in the Great Lakes Basin
• Way of Life – productive farms, clean air, green jobs and safer climate-smart communities for 25% of Canadians

The Science of Healthy Landscapes

A Big Picture ‘portfolio’ grows healthy landscapes with shared standards across thousands of sites, communities and people in the spirit and practice of reconciliation.

Carolinian Canada works with local communities to customize a healthy landscape approach based on Big Picture goals that link hundreds of recovery and conservation priorities from local to global including UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Big Picture Targets for Healthy Landscapes

(% of Carolinian Zone)