The Heart of the Boreal
Boreal Manitoba is an ecologically, economically and culturally significant landscape where Nature United works to build resilience and support transformative change in how lands and waters are managed, benefitting nature and people.
Our Work in Manitoba
Our organization has been working in Boreal Manitoba for 8 years, and we have evolved our approach as we have listened to and learned from the people who are deeply connected to these territories. Today, our work focuses on uniting values across this landscape and supporting Indigenous leadership to drive transformative and scalable change.
Manitoba Community Highlights Booklet
Check out the recent successes in Northwestern Manitoba communities.
Read MoreMomentum is building in this region as Indigenous communities lead new initiatives and develop partnerships that balance protection and sustainable management. As new networks form, these efforts contribute to resilience for nature and people. Nature United has developed its approach in Boreal Manitoba by actively listening to and forming trust-based partnerships with Indigenous Nations and communities.
Nature United collaborates with Indigenous communities to create land-use visions and management plans, establish stewardship and monitoring programs such as Indigenous Guardians, promote Indigenous Protected Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and conserve habitats for cultural keystone species. This approach in Boreal Manitoba is based on almost two decades of supporting Indigenous-led conservation in Canada. our approach is rooted in trust, respect, shared values, adaptability and long-term investment, which are crucial for sustainable results for nature and people.
We are developing transformative solutions to create regional networks and secure significant funding for Indigenous-led conservation efforts in Boreal Manitoba. Our current focus involves collaborating with First Nations and the Métis Nation in Boreal Manitoba and participating in national initiatives that promote knowledge-sharing, Indigenous Guardians and related activities.
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Moose Monitoring and Management
We’ve heard that moose declines are a big concern to Indigenous communities in this region, so we’ve been supporting the development of community-led solutions, such as moose monitoring programs. Learn More
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Community-led Land-use Planning
We’ve supported a number of land-use planning training sessions so communities can lead their own processes, using a process that was developed with Indigenous nations in Australia. Learn More
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Forestry Best Practices
We are committed to supporting best practices in the forestry sector. This includes robust engagement processes that respect indigenous rights and protection and management of cultural and ecological values along with timber values.
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Bringing People Together
We believe in the value of people coming together to network, learn, and share, so we have held a number of gatherings on topics of interest to the communities we have been working with.
Boreal Manitoba is the heart of Canada's Boreal Forest, representing 10% of the largest remaining intact forest in the world and storing an estimated 21 to 45 GT of carbon in its trees, soils and peatlands. This region is also part of the world's second-largest peatland ecosystem — a rare ecosystem that stores twice as much carbon as all global forests combined. It is a critical source of freshwater that supports biodiversity, as well as rural communities and urban populations across Manitoba.
Through transformative change, Boreal Manitoba can remain a stronghold for biodiversity, providing habitat for billions of birds every spring and room for moose and herds of woodland caribou to roam.
Wildlife in Boreal Manitoba
IPCAs can contribute to Canada's 30x30 and climate goals in Boreal Manitoba. Today, only 12 percent of Boreal Manitoba — 10 percent Canada-wide — is protected, but Indigenous Nations are leading efforts to balance protection with sustainable economic development in this globally significant landscape — offering models with global resonance.
Forest management is the core of a sustainable future for nature and people in Boreal Manitoba. Right now, there is an opportunity to transform practices across this landscape— which support local livelihoods and must contribute to a resilient future. Indigenous leadership and values must be integrated into forestry management and practises.
Nature United provides technical expertise to support communities in upholding ecological and cultural values and supporting sustainable resource management. We invest in building partnerships with many others — governments, communities, industries and other ENGOs as part of these efforts.
How fisheries and mining are planned for in Boreal Manitoba will also significantly impact communities and nature. Today, we have an opportunity to ensure these resources are managed sustainably and build partnerships and resilience across this landscape.
Downloads
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Manitoba Community Highlights
This booklet showcases recent successes in Northwestern Manitoba communities.
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Theory of Change
Infographic sharing the way we work to support Indigenous-Led conservation in Boreal Manitoba.
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Moose Monitoring Summary
Recommendations for initiating Indigenous-led Moose Monitoring and Research
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Moose Management Guide
Resulting from the December 2019 workshop hosted by Nature United and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
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Healthy Country Planning Case Study
A case study showing how Healthy Country Planning helped revitalize fire culture in the Yurok, Hoopa and Karuk tribes.
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Manitoba Conservation Values
High Conservation Values in Northwestern Manitoba
Report produced for Nature United showing high conservation values in Northwestern Manitoba.
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