WCC 2016 Res 085 - Activity Report

In 2020-2021, the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) and Parks Canada supported the development of a storybook toolkit; a free online tutorial designed to help people create a professional-looking video using their cellphone that allows them to share their love of nature globally.

Parks Canada is contributing the time of two staff and additional resources to help lead the development of #NatureForAll. Through the joint IUCN-World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and IUCN-CEC task force, the Parks Canada #NatureForAll coordinator has helped build a coalition of over 550 partners who are advancing the #NatureForAll movement through activities such as sharing of success stories, developing toolkits to connect new audiences with nature, videos and other resources in multiple languages.

In addition, the #NatureForAll co-chairs, representing the WCPA and the CEC, with help from the Parks Canada’s #NatureForAll coordinator, convened a group of almost 50 #NatureForAll partners and Commission members to develop the "Ecological Pathways to Change: 2021 and Beyond", identifying three priority areas (inspiring love of nature, weaving communities, fostering enabling environments) outlining the path forward for #NatureForAll. This work was presented at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille in 2021, and this Task Force continues to be active in providing guidance and helping implement these priorities.

Parks Canada supported the delivery of #NatureForAll programming at the Asia Parks Congress and the Africa Protected Areas Congress in 2022. This supported the development of a #NatureForAll Oasis space, complete with programming from African #NatureForAll partners. In Asia, Parks Canada's #NatureForAll coordinator supported the development of a storytelling initiative, where participants were encouraged to share their personal "love of nature" stories on social media.

Parks Canada's #NatureForAll coordinator also led an international session about #NatureForAll at the 2020 Children & Nature Network Inside Out Conference. This brought #NatureForAll partners together, virtually, to discuss ways to integrate #NatureForAll concepts and ideas into youth education around the world.

In addition, Parks Canada supported the development and delivery of pavilion spaces and programming related to the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2020. This included ensuring youth were meaningfully integrated into all aspects of the Forum organization and programme and had a space to gather and learn (the #NatureForAll Youth Oasis). Parks Canada's support was also a key driver in delivering a successful Global Youth Summit, which brought together over 15,000 youth and young professionals under 35 to consolidate their vision for the future of nature conservation and the well-being of our planet.

By 2020, #NatureForAll partners had submitted more than 100 success stories/solutions to the #NatureForAll website and IUCN's Panorama platform. In 2019, #NatureForAll completely adopted the Panorama Solutions site as the go-to success stories platform. In 2020, Parks Canada facilitated the development of ten new #NatureForAll specific solutions from Latin America for the IUCN Panorama platform. These also included personal stories and video. Work will continue to encourage partners to submit their solutions to Panorama.

Working with other IUCN members Ocean Wise, and the Canadian Wildlife Federation, as well as the WCPA, the CEC and two non IUCN members (Taking IT Global and the Academy for Nature Conservation and Landscape Management (ANL), the Parks Canada #NatureForAll coordinator supported the launch the #NatureForAll Discovery Zone. This online platform offers a searchable database of multi-language resources aimed at helping people, especially children, connect with and learn about nature. Parks Canada has already contributed 39 resources to this platform.

Working with the IUCN WCPA and fellow IUCN member the US National Parks Service, along with the George Wright Society and the Colorado State University, Parks Canada staff assisted with the launch the Sounds of Your Park initiative, a continuously growing collection of sounds intended to celebrate the acoustical beauty and diversity of the world’s national parks and other protected areas. In addition, staff from various field units also contributed recordings from their parks and protected areas.

Parks Canada worked with the CEC to develop the #NatureForAll Trivia Game to commemorate the WCPA's 60th anniversary. This trilingual game focuses on parks and protected areas around the world and highlights their unique characteristics, inhabitants, cultures and contributions to local communities as well as the planet.

Parks Canada staff participate in the WCPA Health and Well-being specialist group, which promotes the health and well-being benefits of nature across the conservation, health and other sectors.
Parks Canada also supported the development of the Urban Nature Report, with staff from World Urban Parks, which outlines the importance that plants and urban nature can play in greening cities around the world. Through #NatureForAll, Parks Canada is working with Cities With Nature and AIPH on promoting their efforts in promoting increased urban nature worldwide.