Boreal forest and peatlands secured to support climate resilience

Toronto, Ont. (October 13, 2026) — A vast stretch of Canada’s best-connected and most carbon-rich landscapes is now protected. The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Taiga Forests and Peatlands project, south of Kapuskasing, Ont., conserves more than 81,400 hectares of Canada’s greatest ally in the fight against extreme weather and climate change: nature. 

A responsibility we share 

The boreal forest is one of the world’s most powerful climate solutions. Its forests, soils and wetlands store immense amounts of carbon, filter freshwater, and buffer communities from the impacts of climate change. And Canada is home to more than a quarter of it. 

This natural legacy comes with a responsibility to steward the boreal forest, so that future generations can benefit from all it offers: climate security, community resilience, cultural ties, economic opportunity and so much more. 

Taiga Forests and Peatlands strengthens the boreal forest’s ability to withstand and adapt to impacts of environmental change, like droughts, wildfires and flooding. Conserving large, intact natural systems enables ecosystems to adapt, withstand and recover from disturbance. The impact is amplified when conservation is done at the scale of Taiga Forests and Peatlands. 

The Taiga Forests and Peatlands project is located within Treaty 9 territory, also known as the James Bay Treaty, and within the traditional and ancestral territories of the Ojibway (Anishinaabe), Cree (Omushkegowuk), and Algonquin peoples. NCC is actively engaging with nearby Nations, including Brunswick House First Nation, to find ways to support collaborative stewardship that reflects cultural values and long-term sustainability. 

Building a resilient future 

Taiga Forests and Peatlands brings NCC’s total northern Ontario boreal conservation work to more than 230,000 hectares: more than three times the size of the City of Toronto. 

As Canada and Ontario look to the north for economic security and opportunity, these vast protected areas help ensure species and communities can continue to thrive. NCC is working with partners to further extend these impacts across the boreal landscape. 

This project creates lasting impacts on landscapes far beyond its borders, too. The vast amount of carbon stored on the property allows NCC to leverage carbon financing to support its long-term protection from commercial harvesting. As a registered carbon project, Taiga Forests and Peatlands also has the potential to generate additional revenue that will be used to protect and care for conservation projects across Canada. 

Quotes 

“Protecting nature at the scale needed to make a difference for the future of our grandchildren, communities and planet takes strong partnerships. Taiga Forests and Peatlands is part of that shared solution—it’s carbon storage, clean water, species protection and so much more. The commitments made by the array of partners behind this success prove that we all have a role to play in protecting these benefits for the long term.” 

— Dana Kleniewski, Regional vice-president for Ontario, Nature Conservancy of Canada 

"We’re proud to support the Nature Conservancy of Canada in conserving one of Ontario’s most carbon-rich boreal landscapes. Protecting these forests and peatlands strengthens Canada’s resilience to climate change, safeguards habitat for species at risk, and helps communities better withstand droughts, wildfires and flooding. Projects like these, show how partnership-driven conservation delivers lasting benefits for people and nature." 

— The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature 

“Conserving this vast boreal landscape south of Kapuskasing is an investment in the people, communities, and natural heritage of northern Ontario. Taiga Forests and Peatlands supports species at risk, stores carbon and helps keep ecosystems strong. By working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to conserve these lands for the long term, we are ensuring that these forests and peatlands remain a source of resilience and opportunity for generations to come.”  

— The Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature) 

“We are proud to be working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to protect such an expansive area of the boreal forest in northern Ontario. Through our $2-million investment in this project, we are supporting one of the largest private land conservation projects in Ontario’s history and helping preserve a globally significant boreal landscape that will continue to provide environmental and community benefits for generations.” 

— The Honourable Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 

“Canada has a rare opportunity to protect globally significant northern peatlands while they are still healthy and intact. The Taiga Forests and Peatlands project demonstrates what is possible when we work together at scale to safeguard carbon, freshwater and biodiversity while supporting long-term prosperity. The Weston Family Foundation is proud to work alongside the Nature Conservancy of Canada and other committed partners in supporting this important step toward a more resilient future for northern landscapes and communities.” 

— Christian Bauta, Chair, Weston Family Foundation 

 "Taiga Forests and Peatlands is about far more than a landscape. It's about protecting the natural systems that support biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and sustain us all. By protecting them today, we are ensuring these essential resources remain intact for generations to come." 

— Anne Brown, Director, The Horizon Foundation 

"Protecting more than 81,400 hectares of boreal forest is a gift to every generation that follows. Yardi is proud to support the Nature Conservancy of Canada and its partners on Taiga Forests and Peatlands. Together we are safeguarding nature, and shaping a thriving future for generations to come." 

— Peter Altobelli, President, Yardi Canada Ltd. 

How you can help 

Canada’s boreal forest plays a critical role in supporting clean water, reducing climate risks and sustaining communities. NCC is continuing to raise funds to protect and care for this landscape. Learn more or make a gift at natureconservancy.ca/boreal.