Our work is grounded in our commitment to advance Indigenous-led conservation efforts, protect endangered ecosystems, and ensure that Canada meets its international commitments to combat climate change and restore biodiversity.
In Defence of Nature
A call for a biodiversity protection act
Climate Action Now
Rising to the challenge to meet our urgent climate goals
Legal Defence Fund
Providing legal support for environmental human rights defenders
In defence of nature
A call for a biodiversity protection act
Through grassroots advocacy efforts, community engagement, and collaboration with other non-profits, Legal Advocates for the Nature’s Defence (LAND) is working tirelessly to get the federal government to introduce first of-its-kind legislation to safeguard and restore biodiversity.
To address the critical issue of biodiversity loss, LAND is advocating for the implementation of a comprehensive Biodiversity Protection Act.
LAND is calling on the federal government to introduce a Biodiversity Protection Act that will:
- Enshrine Canada’s international biodiversity commitments into domestic law and require ecosystem-based protection targets that prioritize the protection of the most endangered and least protected ecosystems.
- Provide the necessary legal oversight to conserve and restore habitats, prevent species extinction, and promote sustainable land use practices.
- Recognize Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), a key solution to mitigate the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
Learn More and Take Action
Want to learn more about the opportunity a biodiversity protection law would provide for First Nations in leading the protection of biodiversity? Read a recent article by Nature’s Defence here .
Your support is crucial in making this first-of-its-kind law a reality. Join our campaign to advocate for strong biodiversity protection laws, ensuring that our ecosystems thrive and flourish. Together, we can create a future where nature thrives, and all communities have access to the benefits of a healthy environment.
What We Are Doing
- Advocating for the implementation of climate policies including the targets set out in the Paris Agreement at the local, national, and international levels.
- Mobilizing grassroots support for climate action through awareness campaigns, public demonstrations, and community engagement initiatives.
- Collaborating with other environmental organizations, youth activists, and Indigenous leaders to amplify the call for urgent climate action and environmental justice.
We Need Your Support
Join us in our campaign for climate justice. Together, we can:
- Prioritize Equity and Justice: Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities and Indigenous peoples, exacerbating existing inequalities and injustices. Our response must prioritize the needs and rights of those most at risk to environmental harm.
- Transition Away from Risky, Environmental Damaging Energy Systems: Phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy sources is essential for mitigating climate change and protecting ecosystems. We advocate for ambitious policies and investments that accelerate this transition while ensuring the legacy and impacts of our current energy systems do not disproportionately harm rural, Indigenous and Northern communities.
Climate action now
Rising to the challenge to meet our urgent climate goals
Through advocacy, law reform, and public outreach, LAND is pushing for ambitious climate action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, transitions communities to renewable energy sources, and promotes climate resiliency across Northern Ontario. By meeting the Paris Agreement targets, which serves as a global framework for combating climate change, we can protect our planet’s ecosystems, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and ensure a sustainable future for all.
Legal Defence Fund
Providing legal support for environmental human rights defenders
LAND recognizes the vital role of the grassroots and Indigenous communities in protecting nature and standing up against environmental injustices. However, the voices of many go unheard due to a lack of resources to fund legal assistance. As a result, access to justice is denied and many voices are effectively silenced.
Access to justice is the most pressing justice issue. That is why LAND is committed to providing pro bono legal services to those on the front lines of climate and environmental injustices, empowering communities to defend their rights and protect their land, water, and air.
Why we need your support to build a legal defence fund:
- Grassroots Advocacy: The grassroots plays a crucial role in holding corporations and governments accountable for their actions. Climate change and the loss of biological diversity disproportionately affects Indigenous communities, who are more likely to bear the brunt of environmental degradation and pollution.
- Empowering Communities: By offering pro-bono legal services, we can empower the grassroots and Indigenous leaders to protect their lands, waters, and livelihoods from exploitation and degradation. Our legal support ensures that environmental defenders can exercise their rights safely and effectively.
- Justice for All: Environmental justice is intrinsically linked to social justice. Through our legal advocacy, we can address systemic inequalities and ensure equitable access to a healthy environment for all.
Join us in growing our Legal Defence Fund. Together, we can ensure legal assistance is available to individuals and communities most at-risk from environmental threats, whether it’s challenging polluting industries, advocating for Treaty rights, or holding governments accountable when they fail to protect the environment.
How we will use the fund:
- Offer training sessions and workshops to equip the grassroots with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively participate in decision-making that impacts their environmental or Indigenous rights
- Partner with grassroots organizations and community leaders to identify environmental defenders in need of legal support
- Provide outreach and education programs to inform communities and the grassroots about their legal rights and avenues for seeking legal assistance