Respectful Returns in Canada
Canada
Since 2010, Parks Canada has collaborated with Indigenous Peoples and local communities on the Respectful Returns initiative, which focuses on restoring damaged rivers and streams in seven national parks along Canada’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
The project has helped restore over 65,000 hectares of land and 228 kilometers of waterways. Respectful Returns has also created more than 100 jobs, and built strong partnerships with 32 organizations and communities. The goal is to protect salmon and their habitats while strengthening the connection between people and nature.
In six out of the seven sites, many salmon populations which were once in peril have already increased.
The initiative in numbers
65,878
Hectares under restoration
65,878
Hectares to be restored by 2030
"Guided by Indigenous knowledge and science, Respectful Returns demonstrates the power of collaboration to restore ecosystems and renew relationships with Indigenous communities whose cultures and livelihoods are tied to salmon. More than a project, it is a blueprint for restoration worldwide – where reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through shared stewardship and conservation go hand in hand to protect biodiversity and strengthen communities."
Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, Canada.