Our Mission and Vision
Mission
The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s mission is to conserve and inspire the conservation of Canada’s wildlife and habitats for the use and enjoyment of all.
Vision
The Canadian Wildlife Federation will be the recognized leader in wildlife conservation by making wildlife a part of the value system of every Canadian.
Our History
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to conserving Canada’s wildlife and habitats. Since its inception in 1962, the team at the Canadian Wildlife Federation has been spreading knowledge of human impacts on wildlife and the environment, carrying out actions to conserve and restore species and habitats, developing and delivering conservation education programs, advocating for changes to government policy and programs, and co-operating with like-minded partners. The aim has been and will always be to envision and have a hand at creating a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature.
Why Canada’s Wildlife Needs Us
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is working from coast to coast to maintain something very important — a bright future for Canada’s wildlife. Sadly, many species that call Canada home are in decline, due in part to human activities.
There are currently more than 800 species of plants and animals at risk of being lost from Canada. Moreover, the way in which we use the ocean can be harmful to our marine species. Our forests and grasslands are threatened by the loss and alteration of habitat, toxic pollutants and climate change. Our lakes and rivers are no longer the pristine ecosystems they once were — indeed one-third of Canada’s freshwater fish species are considered at-risk. And only seven per cent of Canadian children spend the recommended amount of time in the outdoors.
We are at risk of losing touch with the natural world and the wonders that Canada’s landscapes provide. The answer? Us. All of us. Working together to bring our vision of a brighter future for Canadian wildlife to fruition. CWF believes in conserving Canada’s wildlife and living sustainably for future generations.
Canadians should be able to enjoy the outdoors for all it has to offer through gardening, hiking, fishing, canoeing, camping, bird watching, swimming, wildlife photography, and so much more. CWF works diligently to foster this Canadian way of life, encouraging people to experience the great outdoors, learn about the wonders of nature and the trials it faces.
Our Approach
The Canadian Wildlife Federation carries out major initiatives across Canada to conserve biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. We take a cooperative approach, bringing together governments, industry, Indigenous communities, other stakeholders and all Canadians to collaboratively achieve wildlife conservation. The best available science guides the development of our policies, programs and communications. We focus our work on these five pillars:
- Advocacy – We work with government and industry to improve legislation and practices that negatively impact wildlife and habitat.
- Research – We conduct research to continually analyze landscapes and habitat use to better understand the challenges that wildlife face.
- Fieldwork – We deliver direct conservation field work to restore and improve habitat, help recover species populations and explore new technologies to create better conservation outcomes.
- Education – We deliver award-winning immersive, experiential education programs that are building the next generation of conservation leaders.
- Connecting with Nature – We inspire people to #DoMoreForWildlife by taking personal action to create a better future for wildlife.
Our Strategic Direction
(2024-2029)
The Canadian Wildlife Federation has embarked on a five-year strategic plan that will provide the guiding focus for efforts to help shape the future of conservation. The seven Key Results Areas in the plan include:
- Strengthen conservation ethic among Canadians
- Inspire conservation actions
- Conserve key species and their habitat
- Drive organizational excellence
- Minimize the impact of climate change on species and ecosystems
- Create unique conservation financing
- Work with Indigenous/Aboriginal Peoples to achieve shared conservation objectives
With your support, we are confident that we will be able to achieve the lofty goals we have set for ourselves to create a brighter future for our wildlife and the places they call home.
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