Our History
Grounded in Science and Collaborative from the Beginning
Our work in Canada began 10 years ago when our global organization, The Nature Conservancy, was invited to join an effort to conserve the Great Bear Rainforest. But in fact, our global organization has supported Canadian conservation for decades. We are proud of our history, which serves as a foundation for the goals and partnerships that drive our work today.
The Story of Nature United
Our Roots
More than a century ago, leaders gathered, debated and laid the groundwork for what would become our global affiliate, The Nature Conservancy.
The Ecological Society of America is formed. This is the beginning of The Nature Conservancy, which now operates in over 70 countries around the world—including in Canada, where it works with its affiliate Nature United.
The Ecologists Union changes its name to The Nature Conservancy, and the organization is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the District of Columbia in 1951.
The Nature Conservancy builds Canadian partnerships to protect key conservation lands in Canada. Over the years, TNC helped establish Conservation Data Centres, created the Canada/U.S. Conservation Partnership, and supported the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in cross-border conservation.
TNC’s collaboration with local partners resulted in the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement, conserving 19M acres, including 5M acres off-limits to logging and the balance managed under stringent harvest standards.
Standing United
Building on more than a decade of conservation in Canada, Nature United is taking bolder steps than ever before to create a healthy Canada where people and nature thrive.
Work in the boreal began with TNC’s partnership with Tolko Industries. In collaboration with three Canadian environmental groups Nature United engaged on technical research.
TNC Canada became a Canadian registered charity while maintaining its affiliation with The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest conservation organization. We hired our first Executive Director in Canada, opened our Toronto headquarters and expanded our team across the country.
TNC Canada changed our name to Nature United. We believe that our future depends on uniting nature and people, integrating conservation and sustainable economic development, and working in partnership—together with governments, communities, industries and other organizations—to build solutions based on our shared values, rather than blocked by our differences.
The future of Nature United is in your hands.
As we support local leadership and unite efforts towards sustainability, you can help us achieve transformative results for local communities and contribute to solving the world’s greatest challenges.