Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, or IPCAs, are lands and waters where Indigenous governments are at the forefront of protecting and conserving the ecosystems within these areas. IPCAs are also centered around culture, language, and the dedication to conserve these areas for future generations. These areas play a major role in biodiversity conservation and the protection of cultural heritage.
In 2015, Canada published a report on the “Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada”, stating that by 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial areas would be protected. However, only 12.5 per cent of Canada’s terrestrial areas were protected as of the end of 2020.
In this episode of the Canadian Mountain Podcast, host Gabrielle Pyska invites guests Dr. Courtney Mason, a professor in Rural Livelihoods and Sustainable Communities at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, and Eli Enns, the Co-founder of the Ha’uukmin Tribal Park in Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, to discuss the importance of IPCAs in Canada and other places around the world. We also touch on what listeners of the Canadian Mountain Podcast can do to support the creation of more IPCAs in the future.
