Swift Fox (NCC)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Holiday Season

Nature Conservancy of Canada offering alternative green gifts to protect nature and critters close to home

Dec 11, 2023 | 3:12 PM

As the holiday season approaches, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) says it is offering a meaningful solution to gift-giving woes with the gift of nature.

By symbolically adopting a species or landscape, the 28^th annual green gifts program is said to be an opportunity to give back to nature across Canada, while bypassing the stress of holiday shopping.

For over 60 years, officials say NCC has leveraged its expertise to protect and conserve the plants, animals and over 15 million hectares of natural landscapes that need it most.

Through the symbolic adoption of a species or landscape, officials say people are supporting NCC to conserve critical habitats and ensure a future for species at risk. According to NCC, funds will also build healthier, more resilient ecosystems that provide important services to people and communities, like water filtration, flood mitigation and carbon storage, while countering the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss.

People can select from nine species, some of which are designated as threatened or endangered like swift fox, monarch butterfly or Blanding’s turtle. NCC officials note that eight diverse habitats are also on offer, which include grasslands, the most endangered yet least protected habitat on the planet. Over eighty per cent of Canada’s native Prairie grasslands have been lost to conversion and human activity.

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NCC officials say gift recipients will receive a full-colour certificate, a 2024 NCC calendar filled with stunning photos of NCC-protected species and properties, and a 10-page booklet about the chosen species or landscape. Paperless gift options include a digital full-colour certificate, a digital landscape or species booklet and an informational video. Charitable tax receipts will be issued for all green gifts program purchases.

Over the last 28 years, NCC officials say more than $3 million has been raised through this holiday program in support of NCC’s critical conservation work across the country.

“This type of gift extends way beyond the holiday season. It’s an investment in our collective well-being and future, and celebrates the myriad benefits that nature provides year-round, now and for generations to come,” says Catherine Grenier, NCC President and CEO.

The green gifts program information, including the full list of species and landscapes, can be found at giving.natureconservancy.ca.

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