Canada has a nature advantage, but it is still undervalued in national planning. The federal government’s new “A Force of Nature” strategy is a positive step forward, one that recognizes nature as a key driver of resilient economic growth.
Based on our latest research, Canada’s Nature Advantage has identified five practical policy building blocks to translate this ambition into action, and lay the foundations to unlock $10 billion in private investment in nature-positive working landscapes by 2030.
Canadians are looking for the government to take action. New polling by Canada’s Nature Advantage and Abacus Data reveals overwhelming agreement across demographics and political ideologies that nature can and should be one of our most valuable national economic assets. Now, they are looking for the government to implement policies to drive lasting growth and prosperity rooted in the forests, farmlands and waters they value. Explore the Five Building Blocks to see how Canadians support nature-positive economic policy.
Five Policy Building Blocks
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Nature should be treated as a long-term capital asset, not a short-term expense. Public investments in conservation, agriculture, forest management and Indigenous stewardship generate value over time - recognizing nature as capital would enable multi‑year financing, improve transparency and better reflect its true value.
Nearly three-quarters of Canadians (74%) support governments measuring the economic value of forests, wetlands, grasslands and freshwater when preparing budgets and investment plans.
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Investment depends on reliable data. Today, nature-related data is fragmented and inconsistent, making due diligence difficult. When coordinated and applied across federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions, standardized data systems would reduce friction, improve transparency and help scale investment.
Three in four Canadians (75%) support federal investment in environmental monitoring, mapping and data systems to help governments, industry, Indigenous Nations and researchers make better land-management decisions.
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Many nature-based projects have strong fundamentals but long timelines and uncertain returns. Blended finance, where public capital absorbs early risk, can help bring these projects to market and attract private investment at scale.
Eight in ten Canadians (81%) support targeted tax incentives that help farmers, foresters and land managers adopt practices that improve habitat, water quality, carbon storage and wildfire resilience.
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Predictable revenue is essential for investment. Well-functioning carbon and biodiversity credit markets can make conservation financially viable and provide the certainty investors require. These markets can translate public environmental value into investable opportunities, and deliver credible ecosystem and reconciliation benefits.
Nearly seven in ten Canadians (69%) support regulated carbon credit systems that create new revenue opportunities for landowners, Indigenous Nations and businesses that improve ecosystem health.
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Indigenous stewardship strengthens outcomes and reduces risk. These models integrate economic performance with ecosystem health and operate on long-term timelines. Partnership with Indigenous communities is essential to building durable, investable projects.
More than two-thirds of Canadians (68%) support expanding opportunities for Indigenous Nations to own, manage and benefit from revenue-generating nature-based projects on public lands.
These five policy building blocks can provide the foundations to scale private investment in nature and deliver Canada’s “A Force of Nature” strategy.
Resources
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Research: Realizing the Value of Nature
New research from Canada’s Nature Advantage translates the essential value of nature into scalable economic opportunities and outlines pathways to build a thriving economy. Explore
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Budget 2026 Submission
Canada’s Nature Advantage has identified five essential building blocks for Budget 2026 that can provide the foundations to scale private investment in nature positive working landscapes and deliver the government’s A Force of Nature strategy. Explore
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Five Building Blocks for Budget 2026
Budget 2026 can lay the foundations to mobilize billions in private investment in Canada’s nature-positive working landscapes. Explore
