The KBA Canada Coalition is composed of organizations and individuals with an interest in identifying and using information about KBAs. There is no formal commitment required for KBA Coalition membership, but members of the KBA Coalition have the opportunity to:
- Participate in the process to identify and assess KBAs in Canada;
- Conduct outreach and education on KBAs in Canada within their networks, e.g., engaging Canadians in understanding the importance of KBAs in biodiversity planning and conservation;
- Support and, where possible, facilitate the consideration of Indigenous Knowledge into KBAs;
- Support and facilitate conservation action or stewardship within KBAs, including coordinating volunteers or local interest groups;
- Work collaboratively to lobby for stewardship of KBAs, and for use of KBA information within conservation policy and decision-making where appropriate;
- Conduct monitoring and research within KBAs;
- Work collaboratively to raise resources to allow for KBA identification.
If you are interested in joining the KBA Canada Coalition, learning more about it or proposing an area as a KBA, please contact us.
Experts and knowledge-holders can also participate in the KBA initiative in their individual capacity. Contact us if you would like to be involved as an expert or contributor.
See some of the member organizations of the KBA Canada Coalition below:
KBA Canada Secretariat
The KBA Canada Secretariat is responsible for steering the national KBA initiative. Formed of staff from across Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Birds Canada, and NatureServe Canada, the Secretariat supports the development of KBA proposals, coordinates activities between members of the KBA Canada Coalition, and liaises with the global KBA Partnership.
WCS Canada
- Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, KBA Canada Director
- Chloé Debyser, KBA Canada Technical Coordinator
- Peter Soroye, KBA Assessment and Outreach Coordinator
- Meg Southee, GIS Analyst
- Angela Leung, KBA Quality Control Coordinator
- Diana Edelman, KBA Program Manager
- Shenella George, KBA Indigenous Outreach Associate
Birds Canada
- Andrew Couturier, Senior Director, Landscape Science and Conservation
- Amanda Bichel, KBA Coordinator
- Chelsea Aristone, KBA Technician
- Molly Bradford, KBA Technician
- Dean Evans, GIS Spatial Analyst
- Sandra Marquez, GIS Analyst
NatureServe Canada
- Patrick Henry, Executive Director, NatureServe Canada
- Randal Greene, Ecosystem-based Automated Range Mapping (EBAR) Project Technical Coordinator
- Samantha Stefanoff, Ecosystem-based Automated Range Mapping (EBAR) Project National Coordinator
Steering and science committees
KBA Canada activities are overseen by steering and science committees made up of representatives from member organizations and individuals with expertise related to conservation planning.
Current steering committee members:
- Gabriel Bergeron, Université de Sherbrooke (early career member)
- Amanda Bichel, Birds Canada
- Sherman Boates, Acadia University
- Ted Cheskey, Nature Canada
- David Fraser, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
- Patrick Henry, NatureServe Canada
- Debbie Martin, Environment and Climate Change Canada (Observer)
- Kassandra McKeown, Cambium Indigenous Professional Services
- Simon Mitchell, WWF-Canada
- Silke Nebel, Birds Canada
- Candice Pete-Cardoso, kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre, University of Saskatchewan
- Amanda Tracey, Nature Conservancy of Canada
- Stephen Woodley, IUCN
Science and knowledge advisors to national program:
- Justina Ray, WCS Canada
- David Fraser, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and co-lead of National KBA Standard
The work of identifying global and national KBAs across Canada is currently led by regional coordinators, who are connected to local conservation networks and experts on the regional flora, fauna, and ecosystems. If you’d like to find out more about KBAs in your area or if there’s a site you would like to propose as a KBA, please do not hesitate to contact us.
- Ian Adams (British Columbia)
- Chelsea Aristone (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Québec, and Atlantic Canada)
- Molly Bradford (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario)
- Colin Chapman (Atlantic Canada)
- Kim Gauthier Schampaert (Québec)
- Maria Leung (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut)
- Zachary Moore (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta)
- Francis Ordonez-Bermudes (Atlantic Canada Ecosystem KBA Analyst)
- Lucy Poley (Ecosystem KBAs across Canada)
KBA Canada is also incredibly grateful to the past coordinators who have committed their time, energy, and passion towards identifying KBAs across Canada:
- Mercy Harris, KBA Technician (Atlantic Canada, and Ontario)
- Karin Newman (Prairies, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba)
- Riley Pollom (British Columbia)
- Caitlin Porter (Atlantic Canada)
- Sarah Robinson (Atlantic Canada)
- Michael Rudy (Alberta and Saskatchewan)
- Robyn Rumney (Ontario)
