Biodiversity Caucus

Mandate

The Biodiversity Caucus links local and global activities, public and private sectors, and nonprofit actors in their work. In accordance with the Caucus’s Memorandum of Understanding with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the goal is to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by raising awareness and urgency, to build capacity, and to encourage proactive action to protect biodiversity.  The Caucus seeks to improve society’s understanding of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, and to promote ways of meeting the challenges.

The Caucus is an apolitical advocate based on a democratic majority among members, for actions that improve ecological systems, biodiversity, and the rights of nature. The Caucus represents its members, as a union of interested parties, much as trade associations act in relation to the private sector. 

What We Do

The Caucus brings together RCEN Members to build partnerships between those seeking action on biodiversity and the need to halt the wide-scale destruction of Canada’s ecosystems. 

It also provides a voice for organizations and their members to offer advice to other national environmental organizations, to governments at multiple levels, the private sector, to international organizations (including the United Nations and its specialized agencies), and multilateral environmental agreement secretariats. 

The Caucus works from the definition of biological diversity in the CBD, with an understanding that biological diversity includes genetic diversity, species diversity - including humans - and ecosystem diversity. In doing so, the Caucus explicitly recognizes the importance of respecting and considering different belief systems and political views. 

Subscribe to the Biodiversity Caucus mailing list to stay informed about the latest developments in biodiversity-related topics and opportunities to engage in impactful initiatives!

Steering Committee

  • Frédéric Perron-Welch (Co-Chair)

    Individual Member, ON

  • Rosalind Warner (Co-Chair)

    British Columbia Council for International Cooperation, BC

  • Aleksandra Spasevski

    Canadian Youth Biodiversity Network, ON

  • Gretchen Fitzgerald

    Sierra Club Canada, NS

  • Julia Laforge

    Nature Canada, ON

  • Chantal Garneau

    Individual Member, ON

  • Shauna Doll

    Halifax Regional Municipality, NS

  • Leslie Adams

    Sierra Club Canada, ON

  • Larry McDermott

    Plenty Canada, ON

  • Kristen Walters

    Raincoast Conservation Foundation, BC

For questions or to join the caucus: outreach@rcen.ca

Caucus Projects