The KBA Canada program is powered by invaluable contributions from a network of trusted data partners, including NatureServe Canada and its network of provincial and territorial Conservation Data Centres, NatureCounts database (which includes datasets from hundreds of sources), iNaturalist Canada and many more. These organizations provide essential biodiversity data used to identify and reassess KBAs across the country. In turn, the KBA program plays a pivotal role in enhancing data quality (e.g. by flagging misidentified records or records with incorrect locations), and identifying priority areas and species where further research and monitoring are needed. This collaborative effort ensures that Canada’s most vital ecosystems and species are identified and safeguarded for generations to come. Learn more about KBA Canada’s key data partners below.

NatureServe Canada is dedicated to providing scientific information about Canada’s biodiversity to guide conservation. It serves as the national affiliate of NatureServe, an international conservation organization, and is a network of Conservation Data Centres (CDCs) across all Canada’s provinces and territories (except Québec, whose CDC is a member of NatureServe instead of NatureServe Canada). These CDCs are essential for collecting, managing, and sharing detailed information on species and ecosystems, including their distribution, status, and conservation needs. CDCs are generally the best sources of information on rare and threatened species within a jurisdiction, and NatureServe’s Natural Heritage Methodology ensures that biological data is consistently collected, assessed, and managed, permitting cross-border analyses of data across North America. Through this collaborative network and approach, NatureServe Canada supports science-based decision-making and ensures that critical biodiversity data informs conservation planning, policy development, and environmental assessments across the country.

You can begin to explore NatureServe Canada’s data through the NatureServe Explorer Pro portal. More detailed biodiversity data is accessible upon request.

NatureCounts is an open data platform created and hosted by Birds Canada that collects, interprets, and shares biodiversity data. Hundreds of millions of wildlife occurrence records from hundreds of research and citizen science projects are accessible via the NatureCounts explore tool. NatureCounts brings together observation data on birds and other biodiversity including data from bird-monitoring, bird-banding, and broad-scale citizen-based bird-surveillance programs.      

Comprehensive, long-term data from NatureCounts support the identification and evaluation of KBAs, and ultimately the fulfilment of Canada’s commitments to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Some datasets frequently used to support KBA identification are eBird, Christmas Bird Counts, and Canadian Migration Monitoring Network data. Data from NatureCounts are also extensively used for impact assessments, species assessments, land-use planning, research, and more.

To learn more visit www.naturecounts.ca.

NatureServe Canada’s Ecosystem-based automated range maps (EBAR) initiative is developing publicly accessible range maps for species across Canada.

Combining the best available species data with automated range map generation and expert knowledge, NatureServe Canada’s EBAR maps are supporting KBA identification for species from coast to coast. The EBAR initiative also supports priority programs such as environmental impact assessments, status assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Species At Risk Act recovery action plans, and provincial and territorial Species at Risk programs and legislation.

Find out more about the EBAR initiative, including how to download EBAR maps and how to contribute to the process, here.

iNaturalist is one of the most widely used community science platforms in the world, allowing people to document and share observations of biodiversity across the globe. By connecting everyday naturalists with a global community of experts, iNaturalist generates a wealth of species occurrence data that contributes to our understanding of biodiversity. iNaturalist plays a vital role in the KBA Canada program by providing data on species distribution, abundance, and habitat use, helping to identify and delineate these critical sites. Each KBA in Canada also has its own dedicated project page on iNaturalist, where observations made within KBAs are collected and showcased, encouraging local engagement, and facilitating opportunistic monitoring efforts.

Biodiversité Québec is a scientific partnership dedicated to monitoring and communicating information about the state of biodiversity and its changes over time. Its goal is to become a leading authority in observing biodiversity trends and making this knowledge accessible to the public. The networks mission includes collecting biodiversity observation data, improving monitoring efforts across Quebec, and providing summaries and analyses to inform and engage the public. Biodiversité Québec also seeks to raise awareness about biodiversity issues and support decision-makers and land managers in integrating biodiversity data into their planning. By bringing together government agencies, university researchers, and a wide network of partners, Biodiversité Québec fosters collaboration to advance field knowledge, enhance data utilization, and leverage new technologies. This collective effort enables new insights into the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecosystems, supporting informed action for biodiversity conservation. Biodiversité Québec is the host of the KBA program in Québec, bridging KBAs directly into this network of expertise.