What are the most pressing threats currently facing Canada’s wildlife and natural habitats?  

In Canada, more than 800 plants and animals are at risk of being lost forever. This includes many of the smallest and most productive pollinators. But it also includes many fish, bats, turtles and whales. There isn’t any one culprit, but a combination of factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, development and pollution, invasive species, most of which can be tied to human activity. People are an integral part of biodiversity and rely on it for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment. That’s why renewed and enhanced efforts to reduce the threats to biodiversity are critical. 

How does biodiversity loss in Canada impact the long-term health and resilience of our ecosystems?  

Loss of biodiversity makes us less resistant to invasive species, diseases and climate change. Freshwater, terrestrial and marine ecosystems all depend on high levels of biodiversity for stability.   

Without biodiversity, our whole way of life is at risk. Pollinators produce one-third of the food we eat. Bats provide billions of dollars in agricultural pest control. We need healthy trees for oxygen and intact ecosystems for carbon sequestration. 

Biodiversity loss is an environmental and social issue that affects the health of people and nature alike, from wildlife habitat being destroyed to communities losing access to food. Loss of biodiversity also diminishes Canada. Our wildlife and wild habitats are a part of our heritage and these need to be protected. We gain many economic benefits from our wildlife species – and we can continue to do this, but we must also pay attention to their conservation. By working together, we can reverse biodiversity loss, but it is going to take a vigilance from all sectors of society and a unified demand for strong government commitment. We can continue to benefit from the natural world, but we must do it in ways that don’t drive species or habitats extinct.  

How can Canadians contribute meaningfully to wildlife conservation efforts in their own communities? 

Canada is such a huge country that scientists cannot possibly document and monitor all its biodiversity without the public’s help. Throughout the year, the public can post their wildlife photos and sound recordings using the iNaturalist app or at iNaturalist.ca so scientists can track species across the country in all seasons and settings. Scientists and decision makers are using the data for crucial conservation work such as species at-risk assessments, delineating Key Biodiversity Areas and answering critical research questions. Canadians can also reduce their use of pesticides, replace mowed lawns with native wildflower gardens, and follow best practices for outdoor recreational activities. What role do policymakers and government regulations play in protecting species at risk, and where is immediate action most needed? 

Strong government policies are critical to the conservation of nature. Governments need to take the necessary action to safeguard Canada’s most vulnerable species. The federal Species at Risk Act provides a crucial backstop but is not enough. The provinces and territories signed on to also take care of species at risk at the provincial and territorial level, yet many don’t have endangered species legislation and those that do aren’t implemented to a high standard the federal Act requires. Immediate action is needed to rectify this, whereby provinces, territories and the federal government collaborate to develop and implement stringent legislation and policies to protect and recover species at risk. Action is most needed to save critically endangered species, like North Atlantic Right Whales going extinct, which requires ample funding and a whole of government and whole of society approach. This requires all levels of government and across departments from Finance to Transport and Defense to Health.   

What success stories or recent conservation wins can inspire Canadians to believe that positive change is possible for our wildlife and biodiversity? 

Bringing species back is possible – for example, the Ontario Butterfly Species at Risk Team successfully reintroduced the Mottled Duskywing in southwestern Ontario. Four years of monitoring has found it to be successful with a now established population of more than 200 butterflies! There is also hope for endangered bats – populations that were nearly wiped out from White-nose Syndrome are not only stabilizing, but bats are showing a resistance and fewer signs of the disease in eastern Canada.   

What programs or initiatives does the CWF offer for Canadians who want to volunteer, donate, or advocate for wildlife protection? 

In addition to posting wildlife observations using the iNaturalist app or on iNaturalist.ca, Canadians can volunteer by planting for pollinators, naturalizing shorelines, installing bat boxes that meet our national standards, joining the CWF photo club and signing up for activities and programs like WILD Education and wildlife-friendly garden certification. Canadians can donate to CWF online by one time or monthly gifts, gifts in honour or memory, legacy giving, corporate giving or by product purchases like magazine subscriptions and symbolic animal adoptions. Direct mail donations are also accepted. This funding helps CWF lead several successful evidence-based conservation efforts such as restoring habitat for Monarch Butterflies along rights of way with a focus on key migratory corridors in Ontario and Quebec. CWF is also helping remove barriers to fish passage caused by road crossings over streams, railways and dams.  

CWF has built a national database of aquatic barriers and developed watershed connectivity plans that help prioritize action strategies. It’s also built the framework for a national native seed strategy and supported grassland conservation programs. Moreover, CWF has created the CanFISH Gear Lending Program to trial on-demand systems that replace traditional buoy lines to reduce entanglement of marine mammals.  

Together, we can make a difference to the kind of legacy we leave behind. 

Can you take us back to the beginning — what first inspired you to pick up a camera and focus it on wildlife and the natural world and dedicate your career to conservation photography? 

I’ve had a love for ocean and freshwater animals since before I can remember. Thanks to my father, I started snorkeling at four years old in Saskatchewan lakes and got certified as a SCUBA diver when I was 15 on a family vacation to the Bahamas.  

I was inspired to pick up a camera from seeing Doug Perrine’s 2004 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winning image of sharks feeding on sardines in South Africa. I wanted to make an image that good someday. The conservation seed was planted when I saw Sharkwater, a film by fellow Canadian Rob Stewart, highlighting the shark fin trade that was leading to the demise of my favorite animals – sharks. My passion has only expanded as I’ve been lucky enough to explore more of the ocean, be in the presence of more amazing wildlife, and see more of humanities impacts. 

Many Canadians feel a strong connection to nature but may not know how to directly help. What advice would you offer individuals who want to make a difference for wildlife and biodiversity preservation?

Get out in nature as much as possible because that is what will inspire you and keep you positive. When you spend time in nature, your love for it grows and when something you love is threatened, you will find a way to help. My skills happen to be in photography, but whatever someone’s skills are, they can be applied to a cause they are passionate about.  
 

For example, I photographed a Greenpeace campaign aboard one of their large ships. I saw the commitment it took to run the ship and campaign from the ship’s captain to the communications team, engineers, mechanics, cooks, accountants, and so many more. Some people have the ability to lead, and that is what we need now more than ever, smart leaders with good hearts and the courage to lead us in the right direction (and us to vote or uplift them).  

Lastly, stay curious. We are learning more about the natural world and about ourselves every day and we need to be able to adapt and change to fight new battles as they come. 

As an advocate for conservation through your photography, what core message do you hope to convey about the urgent need to conserve wildlife and ecosystems? 

We depend on the natural world not only for our survival, but also for our quality of life. We are at a critical point where the faster we move to solve the problems we have created, the fewer people (and non-human animals) will suffer and the more of us can thrive. It’s really about humanity because the planet will be fine without us, but we will not be fine without a healthy planet. When we do something good for Earth, we are really investing in ourselves. 

What’s your favorite animal to photograph — and why? 

Sharks are my first love. I’ve been lucky to photograph 36 species of sharks, but that means there are still around 500 more species to go. Each one of them has their unique charm and each individual within the species has their own personality. I don’t think I will ever tire of seeing sharks in their natural habitat. They are so beautiful, mysterious, and move with the grace I wish I had. Of course, I could say the same thing about many aquatic species! 

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve ever witnessed while photographing wildlife? 

I once had a humpback whale mother push her young calf with her nose towards me and a small group of snorkelers. It was clear she trusted us and while I’ll never know the reason why she did it, I like to think it was because she was proud of her son and wanted us to see him and for him to learn we aren’t a threat. After almost hunting them to extinction, the trust she showed leaves me in awe. 

Both of you have experienced youth activism firsthand. What has the transition from youth activism to adult advocacy taught you about maintaining momentum and influence over time?

Severn: My youth activism is actually what anchors me as an adult: I’m anchored in justice for future generations. It’s our sacred duty to fight for the future. I’ve found that as an adult you can become jaded, just mired in all the reasons why things don’t seem possible, but rooting myself in youth advocacy and continuing to work with young people has helped me so much. I’m reminded daily of why I started down this path. I will be a lifelong advocate for youth. 

Sarika: Maintaining momentum is only possible if you have your health and energy, and this definitely pertains to advocacy work- something we didn’t think about as kids. Today, as Sev says, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of environmental issues, so taking breaks and doing things that replenish us has become important. Growing up, our parents were very honest with us about the ecological destruction of the world; and while that might have been distressing, our mother always empowered us by saying we could take action, we could affect change. She was the first to roll up her sleeves and dive into the work. Now as parents ourselves, Sev and I see the importance of action, not just as an undertaking, but as an embodiment of our values… and as I get older, I find these small actions key to my mental health!

What shifts have you noticed in the approach and reach of environmental activism from your early experiences to now?

Today, there is a general understanding and acceptance that environmental issues exist, and need to be addressed- the science is out and the data are irrefutable. Now climate change is mainstream, it’s all over the media, but that wasn’t the case when we were growing up, or when the David Suzuki Foundation opened in 1990. So while the current global response to climate change may be insufficient, it’s still a big cultural shift in conversation and acceptance- one that shouldn’t be overlooked! The other thing that’s finally changing is an understanding of how justice and the environment are interconnected. They go hand in hand. And the recognition of Indigenous history and the need for reconciliation… Again, all these things seem evident now but when we were growing up, they just weren’t commonly talked about. It’s a new landscape today.

Indigenous communities have long been stewards of biodiversity and natural balance. How can Indigenous knowledge and leadership be integrated more effectively into global climate solutions?

We need recognition of rights and title; we need to listen to Indigenous communities and take their recommendations; we need to implement UNDRIP. We need to take our allyship very seriously and recognize it’s not just a moral imperative, it’s an existence imperative: Indigenous people have maintained their connection to place and culture, living in reciprocity with the Earth… Contrary to that is our globalized, Capitalist economy, which has become the dominant human framework, and which is destroying our planet. So we need to explore different paradigms that exist, ones that are rooted in people in place.

How do you believe we can shift the narrative from climate despair to one of resilience and survival, especially for younger generations experiencing climate anxiety?

We absolutely need to change the narrative from we are the problem to we are the solution. And this is what makes us most excited about working at the David Suzuki Foundation, because ‘Solutions are in our nature!’ We tend to focus on the problems today and it really limits our imaginations, which is ironic, because we actually have all the solutions.

One of the biggest shifts in thinking we’ve had, and which has helped profoundly, is moving away from the idea that people are inherently evil, destructive and greedy. That given a ‘Lord of the Flies’ scenario, we’d all inevitably turn on each other and self-destruct. This is not true. When you look back at our species through time, we see that those who have survived have done so through community, and by living in a way that recognizes our interdependence and interconnection with all life. Dependence on others doesn’t mean weakness; in fact, it’s how we become resilient. We forget this because in modern Western culture these things are not prioritized. And why, again, we have so much to learn from Indigenous cultures, which, having been created and practiced over millenia, reflect this absolutely.

The other thing that gives us huge strength is knowing that we are here today because of our ability to survive: while our species Homo sapiens is relatively new, our early hominid ancestors survived over three million years of astounding climate fluctuation. Through heat, through ice, through enormous landscape changes. And all of this runs through our veins today. The ability to survive is part of who we are. 

What role does storytelling play in transforming climate fears into constructive action?

Stories are essential. They’re how we understand who we are, and how we make sense of the world. If we teach our children that we are inherently destructive, greedy animals, how does that make them feel, how will that effect how they act? If we teach them that we are compassionate, respectful and resilient animals, does this change how they see themselves, and everyone else? Our stories matter.

We know that data and graphs aren’t what ignite our hearts, and it is ultimately our hearts that drive change. When we hear stories about people rolling up their sleeves and making positive change, when we hear about someone doing a kind deed or speaking up for someone else in need, that is what moves us. The environmental movement has done a great deal in achieving public awareness, bringing important stories to the fore on climate change, biodiversity loss, ecosystem destruction. But we also need to tell the stories of what’s possible. Of transformation. And there are so many! Kanaka Bar, a small Indigenous community in British Columbia recently hit by fires, heat waves, and atmospheric rivers: they are tackling climate change head on by increasing food security through farms and gardens, producing their own renewable energy, and collecting their own environmental data so they can best prepare for what’s ahead. Or the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations and Fort Chipewyan Métis, who have created a large-scale solar farm that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 2,000 tonnes CO2eq/year. Or the Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations, whose wind energy projects in an area known for being rich in natural gas, are showing us the future of decarbonized energy supplies, while saving the endangered Klinse-Za caribou herd. Or the story of how much carbon is being kept in the ground because of Indigenous land defenders across Turtle Island. Or our monumental modern international achievements, like how we came together to stop acid rain, by collectively reducing emissions that caused it; or how we created The Montreal Protocol in the late 1980s to reduce harmful chemicals and fix the hole in the ozone. We need to hear these stories. They remind us of who we are, and what we’re capable of.

Despite the challenges, what current trends or initiatives give you the most hope for a sustainable future?

What gives us the most hope is the resurgence in Indigenous self-determination and governance of territory that’s happening all across this country, and beyond. From the historic Tsihlqot’in title agreement by the Supreme Court of Canada ten years ago, to the recent recognition of Haida title over Haida Gwaii by the province of British Columbia, Indigenous people are reclaiming power, and showing us another way. They are benefiting us all in the process, maintaining worldviews that honour land, relationships, diversity, community, and the generations to come. The youth of today also give us hope- from Maial Paiakan Kaiapó in Brazil, to Greta Thunberg in Sweden, to Haana Edenshaw here in Canada, and countless others, young people are stepping into the conversation and forcing us to remember the social obligations we all share, including with future descendants. Young people are and have always been the ones who see the world clearly, and hold our feet to the fire. But without the capacity to vote, or to occupy positions of power, they are still limited, and rely on our help. When we were young, older people would say to us often: ‘Well your generation will clean this mess up!’ or ‘It’s over to you now!’ Solving our environmental problems requires all of us- an intergenerational, or ‘all generations’ approach. Our fearless youth may be taking the lead, but we must be right there beside them to back them up. An example of youth who are leading the way are the Yukon First Nations who created Reconnection Vision, a climate action plan that emerged from their understanding that climate change is a symptom, and the problem is disconnection. The solution is simple: it’s reconnection.

What role can businesses play in influencing policy to support biodiversity and sustainable practices?

Humans have always needed economies, but today we need to redefine and reclaim this current trend of requiring economic growth, and stop this normalized culture of extraction. There are so many groups and individuals working to change our economic system: be inspired by the B Corp. movement, pushing businesses to meet better social and environmental standards to ultimately build a more fair and regenerative economy for all. Kate Raworth, behind the Donut theory, who describes an economy that thrives within our planetary and social boundaries. The Sloth Club in Japan, who believes living ‘slow’- with intention and connection- and supported by an economy centered on sharing, is a powerful way to counter the problems of our fast-paced world. All the people who are defining their own economic paradigms daily through growing their own food, trading goods with neighbours, participating in local markets and spaces which share, lend, reuse, and create. Be encouraged by this… it’s time to get creative!

If you could share one pivotal lesson learned from your careers, what would it be?

No one can do this work alone. It takes a village. And a community. And often, a really great sister.