Canadian Wildlife Federation

The Canadian Wildlife Federation was founded in 1961 and chartered in 1962.{{Cite web|url = http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-wildlife-federation/|title = Mycio, L. (2011). The Canadian Encyclopaedia. The Canadian Wildlife Federation. Retrieved July 19, 2011.}}

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is devoted to teaching others to appreciate the natural world to ensure a lasting legacy of healthy wildlife and habitat.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/about-cwf/about-us/mission.html|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). Mission. Retrieved July 19, 2011.|access-date= 2011-07-28|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110823221808/http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/about-cwf/about-us/mission.html|archive-date= 2011-08-23|url-status= dead}}

To meet these goals, the Canadian Wildlife Federation:

• Informs and educates other Canadians on wildlife and natural habitats;
• Promotes responsible human actions and conservation; and
• Represents wildlife on conservation issues.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation aims to inform, educate and engage Canadians about wildlife through a variety of different methods. By doing this, CWF hopes to inspire other Canadians to donate and support the organization in order to run the programs that teach Canadians about wildlife. Finally, CWF aims to educate and increase awareness on problems concerning Canadian wildlife and how Canadians can aid in the conservation of natural environments.

In 2011, the CWF took steps to reduce the organization's carbon footprint, to raise additional money with less investment and to reduce the foundation's environmental impact. These steps included weighing their mail to avoid over-mailing, less travel and more centralized meetings, installing solar units and recycling.{{Cite press release|url= http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110706005174/en/Canadian-Wildlife-Federation-Balances-Conservation-Priorities-Donor|title=Logan P. (2011). Canadian Wildlife Federation Balances Conservation Priorities with Donor Acquisition Success. Retrieved July 19, 2011.|date=6 July 2011 }}

The Canadian Wildlife Federation's Education department focuses its attention on connecting Canadians to wildlife along a continuum that moves participants from a broad awareness of wildlife issues to one where people take responsibility in their own communities to be ambassadors for species and habitat. Since 2014, CWF's education programming has reached more than 500,000 people in direct, face-to-face programming.

CWF's education programs include:

A gardening program for schools, which teaches about habitat creation through gardening {{Cite web|date=2020-09-02|title=WILD spaces: Connecting urban youth to nature through habitat stewardship in pollinator gardens|url=https://panorama.solutions/en/solution/wild-spaces-connecting-urban-youth-nature-through-habitat-stewardship-pollinator-gardens|access-date=2021-09-28|website=panorama.solutions|language=en}}

=== Wild Education ===

A teacher professional development program, that includes Project WILD, WILD About Sports (a program developed by Damian Foxall to connect sport participants with the natural world and conservation ethic.),{{Cite web |url=http://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore-our-work/education/programs/ |title= Programs - Canadian Wildlife Federation|access-date=2015-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217201308/http://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore-our-work/education/programs/ |archive-date=2015-02-17 |url-status=dead }} and Below Zero (which focuses on winter conservation).{{Cite web|title=WILD Education|url=https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/wild-education/?src=menu|access-date=2021-09-28|website=cwf-fcf.org|language=en}}

=== Gardening for Wildlife ===

Which includes a garden certification program and education to help people learn about wildlife friendly garden practices.

=== WILD Outside ===

A service learning program for 15 to 18 year olds that allows them to connect with the natural world and make a difference. In 2021, this program was a finalist in the Alberta Emerald Awards {{Cite web|title=WILD Outside Youth Leadership Program with CWF {{!}} Alberta Emerald Foundation|url=https://emeraldfoundation.ca/aef_awards/wild-outside-youth-leadership-program-with-cwf/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=emeraldfoundation.ca}} and the Nature Inspiration Awards {{Cite web|title=2021 Finalists: Nature Inspiration Awards|url=https://nature.ca/en/about-us/museum-corporation/nature-inspiration-awards/2021-finalists|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Canadian Museum of Nature|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928162329/https://nature.ca/en/about-us/museum-corporation/nature-inspiration-awards/2021-finalists|url-status=dead}} and won the Calgary Award for Environmental Achievement {{Cite web|last=Office|first=City Clerk's|title=2020 Calgary Awards recipients|url=https://www.calgary.ca/content/www/en/home/ca/city-clerks/citizen-recognition-protocol/calgary-awards/2020-awards-recipients-bios.html|access-date=2021-09-28|website=www.calgary.ca|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928162319/https://www.calgary.ca/content/www/en/home/ca/city-clerks/citizen-recognition-protocol/calgary-awards/2020-awards-recipients-bios.html|url-status=dead}} and the Saskatchewan Award for the environment.{{Cite web|title=RCE Saskatchewan Recognition Event|url=https://www.rceskrecognitionevent.com/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=RCE Saskatchewan Recognition Event}}

=== Canadian Conservation Corps ===

A service learning program for 18–30 year olds that combines service learning in the field with expeditionary travel over a period of 8 months and three stages.{{Cite web|title=Canadian Wildlife Federation expanding programs to engage youth|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-cwf-expanding-programs-jan-2020-1.5439405|last=|first=|date=|website=CBC|access-date=}}

The Canadian Wildlife Federation's Science department focuses much of its attention on the conservation of both marine and land mammals throughout Canada. The main areas of interest for the CWF are: Habitat Stewardship, Freshwater Conservation, Marine Conservation, Endangered Species, and Climate Change.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/about-cwf/about-us/difference.html|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). About Us. Retrieved July 19, 2011.|access-date= 2011-07-28|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110823213921/http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/about-cwf/about-us/difference.html|archive-date= 2011-08-23|url-status= dead}}

The habitat stewardship program focuses primarily on habitat creation and restoration in both rural and urban communities as well as encouraging stewardship for private landowners.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/habitat-stewardship/|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). Habitat Stewardship. Retrieved July 19, 2011.|access-date= 2011-07-28|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811230355/http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/habitat-stewardship/|archive-date= 2011-08-11|url-status= dead}}

Canada houses many freshwater sources throughout the country including lakes and rivers, which are responsible for nearly 9% of the global renewable water energy supply.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/endangered-species/|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). Endangered Species. Retrieved July 19, 2011.|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726050425/http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/endangered-species/|archivedate= July 26, 2011}} This abundance of freshwater also houses many species of fish, birds, amphibians, insects and other species of wildlife.

Research and creating awareness among the public is focused on four main areas:

• Habitat Protection and Restoration;
• Aquatic Invasive Species;
• Conserving Freshwater Wildlife Populations; and
• Reducing the Impact of Water Pollution on Wildlife.

As Canada has a vast coastline (234,000 km), bordered by three oceans, the federation works hard to maintain the health of the marine life.

The key areas focused on include:

• Reducing the impact of Fisheries on Marine Wildlife;
• Marine Pollution; and
• Marine Protected Areas.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/marine/|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). Marine. Retrieved July 19, 2011.|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726050508/http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/marine/|archivedate= July 26, 2011}}

Over fishing is a major area of interest as it is crucial to maintain ample food for marine life that relies on these areas for winter grounds or having their young.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation implemented an Endangered Species Program to aid in the conservation of threatened species throughout Canada. Extensive research is performed to identify the reason behind the decrease in wildlife population, and the most appropriate method that can be used to ensure the population will increase. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the CWF (along with other organizations) combine their knowledge in order to have unanimous conservation methods between organizations. Other projects include reintroducing threatened species back into their natural habitat to increase population diversity. The CWF also aims to influence government regulations regarding endangered species in order to promote longevity of the species.

Climate change is a global issue that researchers believe will have serious, negative consequences in the future, but its current effect on wildlife is apparent. The adaptations that many species have undergone to adjust to the varying climate include shifting their migratory ranges, migrating earlier or later than usual, and changing hibernation patterns.{{Cite journal|title= Nature (2011). Extinction Risk From Climate Change. Retrieved July 19, 2011. | volume=427 |issue= 6970 | doi=10.1038/nature02121|pmid= 14712274 |journal=Nature|pages=145–148|year= 2004 |last1= Thomas |first1= C. D. |last2= Cameron |first2= A. |last3= Green |first3= R. E. |last4= Bakkenes |first4= M. |last5= Beaumont |first5= L. J. |last6= Collingham |first6= Y. C. |last7= Erasmus |first7= B. F. |last8= De Siqueira |first8= M. F. |last9= Grainger |first9= A. |last10= Hannah |first10= L. |last11= Hughes |first11= L. |last12= Huntley |first12= B. |last13= Van Jaarsveld |first13= A. S. |last14= Midgley |first14= G. F. |last15= Miles |first15= L. |last16= Ortega-Huerta |first16= M. A. |last17= Peterson |first17= A. T. |last18= Phillips |first18= O. L. |last19= Williams |first19= S. E. | s2cid=969382 | url=https://pure.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/733227/Thomas&Cameron_Extinctions_Cover&Article_Nature_2004.pdf }}

The CWF focuses on three areas of climate change:

• Using Habitat Restoration and Conservation to Store Carbon;
• Planning for Wildlife Adaptation to Climate Change; and
• Advocating for Strong Carbon Emission Reduction Targets for Canada.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/climate-change/|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). Climate Change. Retrieved July 19, 2011.|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726050420/http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/conservation/climate-change/|archivedate= July 26, 2011}}

The Canadian Wildlife Federation published Checkerspot, a biannual climate change magazine. A free magazine, its inaugural issue was launched May 2007; it ceased production in 2009 due to the economic downturn of that year.{{cite web| url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090406030953/http://www.checkerspotmagazine.ca/EN/about_us/subscribe/subscribe.asp|title= Checkerspot stops production|access-date=26 September 2024}} Named after a butterfly whose ranges were believed {{citationneeded|date=January 2024}} to be shifting as a result of global warming, Checkerspot claimed to be a climate neutral publication. CWF used Checkerspot to advance activism on and promote discussions about climate change.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation works with all levels of the Government of Canada in addition to businesses for the purpose of meeting their goals, which are to increase awareness for the welfare of wildlife in Canada.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/educate/partners/|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). CWF Education Partners. Retrieved July 19, 2011.}} The CWF works with provincial and territorial governments, federal agencies, organizations and Environment Canada. Some national partners include: Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada, Royal Botanical Gardens (Ontario) and Atlas of Canada. The many partners of the CWF provide financial support and aid with resources to help protect wildlife. The financial support and resources that these partners offer help to increase awareness and stewardship of wildlife preservation in Canada.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation works with Boomerang Tools. Boomerang Tools is a Canadian tool company that focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling. They have developed an Ecological Program, where old tools are recycled for credit and sent to a local metal recycling plant. All proceeds from the tool-recycling program are donated to the CWF to conduct projects and research.{{Cite web|url= http://www.boomerangtools.com/|title=Boomerang Tools (2011). Retrieved July 19, 2011.}}

In 2010, the Canadian Wildlife Federation organized the first annual "Walk for Wildlife".{{Cite web|url= http://donate.cwf-fcf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nww11_home|title= Canadian Wildlife Federation (2011). Walk for Wildlife. Retrieved July 19, 2011|access-date= 2011-07-28|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110812002331/http://donate.cwf-fcf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nww11_home|archive-date= 2011-08-12|url-status= dead}} This walk runs during National Wildlife Week (April 10–16). The purpose of this walk is to raise awareness about sustainable forest management and conservation of habitats for Canadian wildlife. The walk runs across Canada, where communities host local events. All of this can be made possible because of the many partners and sponsors of the CWF.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.cwf-fcf.org The Canadian Wildlife Federation]
• [http://www.hww.ca Hinterland Who's Who]

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Category:Environmental organizations based in Ontario

Category:Political advocacy groups in Canada

Category:Charities based in Canada

Category:Nature conservation organizations based in Canada

Category:Wildlife conservation in Canada

Category:Organizations based in Ottawa