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:
Secretariat and Advisors
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
David Browne, Senior Vice-President, Conservation & Policy
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.
Steering committee
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
David Browne, 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
Justina Ray, WCS Canada
David Fraser, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and co-lead of the National KBA Standard
KBA Coordinators
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 would like to find out more about KBAs in your area or if there is 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)
Past Regional Coordinators
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 (Atlantic Canada and Ontario)
Karin Newman (prairies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba)
