Utilizing Indigenous Conservation in Canada to Strengthen Contributions to Environmental Targets and Reconciliation Goals

Abstract

Indigenous-based conservation provides enhanced safeguarding techniques and hands-on stewardship over lands, waters, and ice, resulting in numerous environmental welfare and reconciliation processes that can be applied to national and international targets and goals. This research utilizes a variety of data to examine the impact that Indigenous conservation has on environmental welfare and reconciliation efforts. The approach employs a literature review followed by two case studies based on one Indigenous-led conservation area and one cooperatively governed conservation area in Canada. The analysis determines how Indigenous conservation methods have contributed to the social and economic wellbeing of local Indigenous Peoples and the enhanced safeguarding effects these conservation areas have on the environment, biodiversity, and climate regulation. The research examines how Indigenous conservation methods are beneficial for both reconciliation and environmental welfare and the subsequent recommendations are tailored towards their implementation, protection, and expansion. The results will have significant political, social, and environmental implications as this research has implications to establish the significance of Indigenous-based conservation methods and Traditional Knowledge, and further suggests that governments with local Indigenous populations may utilize Indigenous-led and co-governed conservation areas to strengthen contributions to their national and international environmental targets and reconciliation goals.