The National Environmental Treasure (NET) is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting environmental conservation through exclusive funding of Canadian environmental organizations. It operates as a people's trust fund with the primary mission of increasing the core capacity of smaller and medium-sized environmental groups across Canada, particularly those working within local communities and regions. NET focuses on critical areas such as environmental literacy, infrastructure support, public communications, and operational sustainability, aiming to strengthen the effectiveness and longevity of its partner organizations.

Mission and Activities

NET’s overarching goal is to build a $30 million public charitable foundation for the environment, symbolically equivalent to every Canadian donating one dollar towards environmental stewardship. The organization places strong emphasis on capacity building, recognizing that many funding bodies tend to overlook this critical area. Although NET at times faces challenges in providing direct funding due to these systemic issues, it remains actively engaged in special projects that align with its mission.

One of its prominent initiatives is the Biodiversity National Education Campaign, which NET co-leads alongside the Ecological Design Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. The campaign seeks to increase public access to knowledge and practical solutions for biodiversity conservation, aiming to halt and reverse biodiversity loss while promoting ecological regeneration. A key component of this work includes collaborating on the Bylaws for Biodiversity project with the goal of establishing a national Garden Guardians network to support local biodiversity efforts.

Biodiversity Focus

NET highlights the critical state of biodiversity in Canada and globally, referencing scientific data that shows a devastating loss of species—up to 60% reduction in mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles since 1970, as well as the rapid decline in invertebrate populations such as bees and other pollinators. This loss is part of what scientists describe as the sixth mass extinction. NET uses educational media—videos, podcasts, blogs, and social media—to raise awareness about the urgent need to increase protected areas and encourage individual, community, and political action to conserve and regenerate biodiversity.

Public Engagement and Education

The organization actively engages with diverse Canadian audiences, ranging from teenagers to seniors, through its extensive outreach efforts. NET’s educational content covers topics like the importance of leaf litter, impacts of light pollution on insects, and the role of soil biodiversity. Their podcast series features experts discussing themes such as protected areas and urban nature, blending scientific insight with inspiring calls to action.

Registration and Charitable Status

The National Environmental Treasure is a registered Canadian charity under the business registration number 869648147RR0001. It complies with the Canada Revenue Agency's requirements, enabling donors to receive tax benefits for contributions made towards NET’s mission.

The National Environmental Treasure stands out in Canada’s environmental landscape by prioritizing capacity building for grassroots organizations and fostering a collaborative, informed approach to biodiversity conservation and environmental literacy nationwide.

[1] https://www.oursafetynet.org/about/ [2] https://www.oursafetynet.org [3] https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/national-environmental-treasure/ [4] https://www.devex.com/organizations/national-environmental-treasure-net-160810 [5] https://conservationoptimism.org/the-national-environmental-treasure-says-hello-to-conservation-optimism/