“Alberta supports protecting nature and biodiversity, but Canada’s Nature Strategy must reflect the constitutional reality of land management, and the work provinces are already doing. Alberta has one of the largest areas of publicly managed and conserved land in the country.
“Federal reporting measures do not capture the full picture, focusing on narrow definitions of protected land while excluding broader actively managed landscapes and only recognizing lands permanently dedicated to biodiversity conservation.
“Alberta takes a different approach. Our province includes all publicly owned and regulated lands, including those protected from development. By that measure, Alberta is not only meeting the intents of Canada’s 30 by 30 goal, but we are far exceeding it.
“Nearly 60 per cent of the province’s land base is publicly managed Crown land. This represents about 40 million hectares that have been responsibly managed, stewarded and conserved for decades. Land use is regulated to protect watersheds, conserve wildlife habitat, support forestry and agriculture, enable outdoor recreation and allow for responsible, carefully managed resource development.
“This is not a new commitment or a future goal. It is a proven made-in-Alberta model that reduces environmental impact while supporting economic activity. Within the public land base, about 16 per cent is protected through parks and conservation areas, roughly 15 per cent includes our majestic Rocky Mountains and Foothills, and four per cent is considered working landscapes like grazing leases and agricultural Crown lands. The rest includes working landscapes, forests and mountain regions, all managed under strict land-use rules.
“Much of this land lies within the boreal forest and northern regions which store significant carbon and protect critical water systems and biodiversity. Activities on these lands are highly regulated, and subject to some of the most stringent land-use controls in Canada and the world. Alberta manages landscapes at scale, limits the province’s industrial footprint and protects critical ecosystems while allowing responsible use.
“As the federal government advances national conservation targets, Alberta expects full recognition of provincial jurisdiction and existing outcomes. Conservation in Canada will not succeed through one-size-fits-all approaches. We call on Ottawa to build on provincial expertise, respect regional realities and recognize Alberta’s success in managing one of the largest and most carefully regulated public land bases in the country.”