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 WCS 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
- Thomas Komarniski, KBA Indigenous Outreach Associate
- Jessica Reid, KBA Research Intern
Birds Canada
- Andrew Couturier, Senior Director, Landscape Science and Conservation
- Amanda Bichel, KBA Coordinator
- Chelsea Aristone, KBA Technician
- Dean Evans, GIS Spatial Analyst
- Mercy Harris, KBA Technician
- Molly Bradford, KBA Technician
- Sandra Marquez, GIS Analyst
NatureServe Canada
- Patrick Henry, Executive Director, NatureServe Canada
- Samantha Stefanoff, Ecosystem-based Automated Range Mapping (EBAR) Project National Coordinator
- Randal Greene, Ecosystem-based Automated Range Mapping (EBAR) Project Technical 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)
- Sherman Boates, Acadia University
- Ted Cheskey, Nature Canada
- Andrew Couturier, Birds Canada
- Dave Fraser, COSEWIC
- Zuzu Gadallah, Environment and Climate Change Canada (Observer)
- Patrick Henry, NatureServe Canada
- Dan Kraus, WCS Canada (Chair)
- Silke Nebel, Birds Canada
- Kassandra McKeown, Cambium Indigenous Professional Services
- Simon Mitchell, WWF-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
- Cheryl Chetkiewicz, WCS Canada
The work of identifying global and national KBAs across Canada is currently led by regional and thematic 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 send us a message through the contact us page.
- Ian Adams, British Columbia
- Michael Rudy, Alberta and Saskatchewan
- Zachary Moore, Manitoba
- Robyn Rumney, Ontario
- Kim Gauthier Schampaert, Québec
- Colin Chapman, Atlantic Canada
- Maria Leung, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
- Lucy Poley, Ecosystem KBAs across Canada
- Amanda Bichel, Bird-related KBAs and IBA-to-KBA transition 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:
- Sarah Robinson (Atlantic Canada)
- Caitlin Porter (Atlantic Canada)
- Karin Newman (Prairies, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba)
- Riley Pollom (British Columbia)
