The local IPCA project will explore the journeys of three urban and local-scale Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) across Canada to understand how they have been created and managed. This project has been funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and I will be working with the Conservation through Reconciliation partnership at University of Guelph.
IPCAs can vary across communities in terms of partnership, governance, and management practices. Therefore, the experiences and stories of existing and emerging IPCAs are required to understand and communicate what IPCAs can look like in Canada and the successes and potential benefits of this approach. This research aims to provide in depth information on three local IPCAs to inform government decision-making and build learning tools through the IPCA Knowledge Basket, a toolbox to support Indigenous communities in the planning, development, establishment, and ongoing management of IPCAs. This will be a useful resource for communities and partners involved in the establishment of IPCAs.