NatureServe Canada and its network of Canadian Conservation Data Centres (CDCs) work together and with other government and non-government organizations to develop, manage, and distribute authoritative knowledge regarding Canada’s plants, animals, and ecosystems. Below are some of NatureServe Canada's ongoing projects.
Canadian National Vegetation Classification
The Canadian National Vegetation Classification (CNVC) is a comprehensive hierarchical taxonomy developed through a multi-decade provincial, territorial and federal government collaboration. The classification provides standardized units for Canadian vegetation, fostering national consensus with provincial, territorial, and regional classifications, as well as the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. With funding support from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), NatureServe Canada and NatureServe are leading a multi-year project (2023-2028) with provincial and territorial governments to complete and map the CNVC.
Canada Key Biodiversity Areas
The Canada Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) project is a multi-partner collaborative project with core workplan activities led by Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Birds Canada and NatureServe Canada. NatureServe Canada leads on data gathering, management, and distribution (for non-bird species), and the development of EBAR species range maps. The project is identifying lands that are priorities for biodiversity conservation, offering a scientific basis for Canada to meet its commitment to safeguard 30% of its land and water by 2030. Funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Royal Bank of Canada's Tech for Nature program are supporting NatureServe Canada's work on this project.
Canadian Terrestrial Ecological Framework
Environment and Climate Change Canada is funding NatureServe Canada to lead a multi-year project (2023-2027) to revise the 1996 Canadian Terrestrial Ecological Framework (CTEF), in collaboration with the provinces and territories. The project consists of three parts: the updating of the framework and maps, the updating of the GIS system underlying and supporting the framework, and a public website to share widely the information coming out of the new framework. NatureServe Canada’s CTEF project team will be collaborating with government representatives to develop an improved and modernized framework that meets the needs of each level of government.