Landmark conservation partnership: 45,000 hectares protected in southeastern BC advances national nature and climate goals

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Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ktunaxa First Nations, governments, industry and donors unite to safeguard vital Rocky Mountain landscape

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, Elk Valley Resources (EVR), a Glencore company, and other public and private partners, today announced the successful conservation of 45,000 hectares of timberland in southeastern BC — one of Canada’s largest private land conservation projects to date.

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Known as the Kootenay Forest Lands, the project is located within the homelands of the Ktunaxa Nation, which has endorsed the project. Kootenay Forest Lands will now be held under conservation stewardship for generations to come, delivering ecological, cultural and community benefits at a scale rarely seen in Canada.

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This project was only possible through an extraordinary partnership. Together, the Ktunaxa First Nations, governments, industry, communities and private donors joined NCC to ensure that one of North America’s most ecologically significant landscape corridors will remain intact for generations to come.

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A vision decades in the making

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For more than two decades, local communities, Indigenous Nations and conservationists have worked to secure the future for these lands. That long held vision is now a reality; a model of partnership that proves what can be accomplished when we act together for nature.

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The Kootenay Forest Lands contribute to a network of more than 7,000 square kilometres of protected areas in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and into Montana. This landscape is vital for wildlife movement and ecological health, supporting grizzly bears, wolverine, lynx and bull trout. It also features rare high-elevation grasslands, ancient forests, and a multitude of streams that feed into the Elk River, a waterway renowned for its world-class fly fishing.

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Partnerships that define conservation

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This achievement shows what is possible when governments, industry and communities commit to a shared vision. With the support of the Ktunaxa First Nations, and major contributions from the Government of Canada and Elk Valley Resources, this project became possible. Additional funding from the Province of British Columbia, BC Parks Foundation, Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, Columbia Basin Trust, and many other foundations and individual donors helped bring the full collaboration to life. The result is not just land secured, but a model of collaboration that aligns cultural, social, ecological and economic priorities.

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This collaboration reflects a made-in-Canada approach to climate and biodiversity action, combining Indigenous leadership, scientific knowledge, and public and private investment to deliver solutions with global relevance.

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What’s next?

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Under NCC’s care, the Kootenay Forest Lands will transition from industrial-scale forestry to a conservation-focused management designed to restore ecosystems, enhance carbon storage and build resilience to wildfire and floods. Public recreation access will continue, and stewardship decisions will be shaped in collaboration with local Indigenous Nations, communities and partners to honour cultural traditions, protect wildlife and waters and strengthen community well-being.