Aviva Canada’s partnership with WWF-Canada

Canada is facing the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. The two crises feed each other: The decline of at-risk species is driven largely by habitat loss, which is also driving climate change.

Globally, one-third of greenhouse gas emissions result from the destruction of trees, ground cover, peatlands, coastal plants and other ecosystems.

So, to fight climate change and safeguard wildlife at the same time, we must protect and restore viable habitat that supports biodiversity and absorbs carbon. We call these approaches nature-based climate solutions.

WWF-Canada’s Nature and Climate Grant Program, helps community groups and Indigenous organizations take measurable actions to restore degraded lands and shorelines to improve habitats and reduce emissions.

Here’s what some of our 2021 recipients are doing:

Hammond River Angling Association, New Brunswick
Sarah Blenis, Project Coordinator, Hammond River Angling Association

We will be doing core soil sampling to determine the amount of carbon sequestration. Measuring soil carbon is important because it is part of a nature-based solution. It also gives us a better idea of how we are adjusting to climate change.

Credit Valley Conservation, Ontario
Susana Goncalves, Coordinator, Credit Valley Conservation

I think we've had about 80 volunteers roll in throughout the day and we're planting 200 trees, wildflowers and shrubs.

SeaChange Society, British Columbia
Nikki Wright, Executive Director, Seachange Society

We're working with the town of Sidney, community members, stewardship groups, First Nations to calculate the approximate capacity of the wetlands and the eel grass to sequester or pull down the carbon from the atmosphere and how can we increase that capacity as climate change intensifies.

The Nature and Climate Grant Program, presented in partnership by Aviva Canada, is part of WWF-Canada’s 10-year plan to Regenerate Canada.

Find out more about these projects and our goals at wwf.ca