World Nature Conservation Day 2025

Photo by / par Heather McKinnon

Every year on July 28th World Nature Conservation Day shines a spotlight on the urgent need to protect everything from forests and the diversity of plant and animal life to soil, water, and air—because nature provides clean air, fresh water, nutritious food, raw materials, and vital services such as pollination, climate regulation, and soil fertility, all underpinned by biodiversity, on which over half of our global GDP depends. More than just a date on the calendar, it’s a global call to reflect on our role in maintaining a healthy environment, safeguarding biodiversity, and stewarding our natural resources—and to honour all those who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to conserve Earth’s treasures, underscoring that a healthy environment is the foundation of a stable, thriving society.

Yet our current trajectory is unsustainable. Over 70% of all ice-free land has been altered by humans. In Canada, we’ve lost about 20 million hectares (15%) of our wetlands since European settlement and 62.6 million hectares of tree cover from 2001–2024. Habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution have driven a 59% drop in Canadian at-risk species between 1970 and 2016. Today, more than 800 species in Canada are at risk—363 endangered, 190 threatened, 235 of special concern, and 22 extirpated.

Today, Sierra Club Canada proudly celebrates its ongoing work and conservation victories under our Decade of Change (2020–2030). From coast-to-coast grassroots efforts—protecting North Atlantic right whales with whale‑safe fishing gear and reduced vessel strikes; opposing threats to Québec and Ontario green spaces and ecosystems; championing prairie grassland conservation for species like the Bobolink and Western Prairie Fringed Orchid; to our ‘Let’s Plant’ campaign with Dutchman’s Gold, sowing 10 million native seeds nationwide to restore pollinator habitat—our commitment remains unwavering.

Moreover, we’ve pressed for Rights of Nature inclusion in Canada’s Nature Accountability Act, urging the consideration of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in national biodiversity policy. In a landmark legal challenge, we joined Kebaowek First Nation to block a proposed radioactive waste dump near Ottawa—critical habitat for turtles, birds, and the culturally significant Eastern Wolf. In Ontario, we stand with Indigenous land defenders against Bill 5, which strips vital protections from endangered species and their habitats, mirroring our broader work to defend vital ecosystems and protect species at risk. Locally, we organize tree plantings, cleanups, and other on-the-ground events to restore habitats and build ecological resilience.

Thanks to you, we can continue raising awareness, driving campaigns, and championing nature-based solutions—securing tangible wins for conservation across Canada that safeguard the health of the entire planet and everyone who calls it home. By conserving nature today, we’re investing in a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come, protecting species and restoring ecosystems for all.

Please consider becoming a monthly donor of Sierra Club Canada to amplify your impact and help us conserve nature today.

By Melody Li, Communications Assistant, Sierra Club Canada