Forest Caucus Report

A Newsletter of the Canadian Environmental Network Forest Caucus

“Thinking Globally, Acting Locally”
Riki Burkhardt, Federation of Ontario Naturalists

As a provincial conservation organization, the Federation of Ontario Naturalists has a vision to “protect Ontario’s nature through research, education and conservation action”. FON is a multi-level organization, operating at a provincial, regional and local level through its central office in Toronto, its Boreal office in Northwestern Ontario and 125 member naturalist clubs located across the province.

There are distinct advantages to undertaking conservation work at a local level. Effecting change at this scale is facilitated by a more direct link to resource decision-makers and access to participatory mechanisms that can and have effectively influenced the outcome of land use decisions in the province.

At the same time, provincial ENGOs must be cognizant of the external forces that direct resource management and extraction at the global scale. International conventions, trans-boundary trade agreements and global market forces all affect conservation initiatives undertaken at a local level in Ontario and across Canada.

Without a clear understanding of these external pressures, it becomes more difficult for organizations to design and implement targeted campaigns and projects to achieve maximum effect at a smaller scale of operation. When funding dollars are limited, ENGOs must ensure that conservation initiatives are building on the momentum of global conservation trends and existing information networks rather than working in isolation against international political and market forces over which they have little control.

For local-level ENGOs, the value of international conferences such as the World Forest Congress is in offering an overview of the larger context in which they operate. While the details of provincial conservation issues can be specific to a local scale, it was evident at the Congress that there are many common themes that transcend international borders. As observed in Quebec City, Boreal forest conservation, Indigenous land use issues, forest certification schemes and information requirements are just some of the elements common to ENGO concerns around the globe.

Events like the World Forest Congress provide not-for-profits a chance to network with peers, share information and identify opportunities based on a more informed assessment of conservation issues around the world. Having access to international fora ultimately assists local-level ENGOs in keeping an eye on the bigger picture while carrying out key conservation initiatives more effectively in their own jurisdictions locally, provincially and across Canada.