Quebec-Labrador Foundation

I. Conservation and stewardship in 2022, qlf's conservation and stewardship initiatives consisted of the following programs and projects: 1) the sounds conservancy marine research program; 2) biodiversity conservation program; 3) conservation and stewardship of protected areas, the maritimes; 4) connectivity conservation: the staying connected initiative; 5) stewardship, regional programs; 6) stewardship, global programs in collaboration with the world commission on protected areas of the international union for conservation of nature. (1) the sounds conservancy marine research program- the sounds conservancy is a marine research program along the six sounds, estuaries, and coastal waters of southern new england and new york. From south to north, the sounds are long island, fishers island, block island, rhode island, martha's vineyard, and nantucket. The program is dedicated to conserve, protect, and steward the sounds and its coastal waters, and to support marine research, environmental policy, and environmental education. Each year, qlf awards supplemental research grants to graduate students, fellows, and practitioners in marine conservation. As well, each year, qlf staff update the sounds conservancy's 200-page electronic publication, which documents twenty-five years of work by the program's fellows. (2) biodiversity conservation program - qlf's biodiversity conservation program is managed by a senior program consultant in Massachusetts with qlf staff members. The goals of the program are to encourage local communities to take an active role as citizen scientists, promote initiatives that secure sustainable development, steward and conserve ecosystems, and lead biodiversity conservation initiatives as a strategy to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. The 2022 biodiversity conservation programs follows:aquatic species at risk- the government of canada's department of fisheries and oceans awarded qlf a four-year grant secured by a qlf senior consultant who is recognized worldwide for her pioneering work in community-based conservation. The project contributes to the recovery of endangered and threatened marine species by reducing threats caused by fisheries such as entanglement with fishing gear, ingestion of plastics, and by-catch mortality. 2022 marks the third year of this project, which is based along the great northern peninsula of newfoundland and southern labrador and managed by a senior consultant in massachusetts.aquatic species at risk, south coast of newfoundland in 2022, the government of canada's department of fisheries and oceans awarded qlf a four-year grant for the recovery of aquatic species threatened and endangered. This project is based along the south coast of newfoundland and managed by a senior consultant in Massachusetts. (3) conservation and stewardship of protected areas, the maritimes - the goal of this program is to ensure the conservation and stewardship of protected areas in the maritime provinces of new brunswick, nova scotia, and prince edward island. The program, managed by staff based at the headquarters in Massachusetts, is directed in partnership with the nature trust new brunswick, the nova scotia nature trust, and the island nature trust (prince edward island). In partnership with each land trust, qlf staff conduct provincial surveys to assess the impact of climate change on seabirds, sea ducks, and migratory birds as well as flora and fauna across the maritime provinces. Data from the species surveys contribute to longitudinal studies to inform current and future conservation initiatives. (4) connectivity conservation: the staying connected initiative - qlf is a new partner in the staying connected initiative, a cross-border, public-private collaboration focused on conserving and restoring a well-connected forest landscape for native wildlife and people in the northern appalachian-acadian/wabanaki region of northeastern north america. This region, which encompasses more than 80 million areas is globally significant as one of the largest areas of mixed temperate forest remaining in the world. Importantly, it is a critical gateway for species moving northward in response to climate change. Program partners are deploying an innovative approach to connectivity conservation and stewardship in working with indigenous leaders and communities in the region while maintaining a regional commitment to protect 30% of terrestrial and aquatic habitat by 2030. This program and its many projects are managed by a senior vice president based at a qlf field office in Vermont. (5) stewardship, regional programs- national park service institute qlf is the principal partner in the national park service stewardship institute, which was founded with the conviction that the national park service (nps) has a great public purpose and that its people charged with the stewardship of some of america's greatest treasures should be supported, challenged, and provided opportunities for renewal. In 2022, qlf directed a project to develop a strategic plan to revitalize the chesapeake bay gateways network, a system of hundreds of sites in the 64,000 square miles of the watershed, which includes parks, wildlife refuges, maritime museums, historic sites and water trails. Programs with the national park service institute are managed by a qlf senior vice president based in Massachusetts. (6) stewardship, global programsthe stewardship global programs are managed by a qlf senior vice president based in massachusetts.world commission on protected areas - qlf's stewardship, global programs are managed in partnership and collaboration with the world commission on protected areas (wcpa) of the international union or conservation of nature (iucn). Notably, a qlf senior vice president serves as a vice chair of the wcpa, which is one of seven commissions within the iucn. With over 2,500 volunteer members worldwide, the wcpa provides scientific, technical and policy advice and advocates for national and global systems of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial protected areas to secure biodiversity conservation. Other projects in collaboration with the world commission follow: global biodiversity framework - a component of the initiative of the wcpa is the implementation of the convention on biological diversity to reverse nature loss worldwide through the guidance of the global biodiversity framework. Of relevance to the wcpa and the framework is target 3, the 30 x 30 global initiative to secure 30% of land and sea through protected and conserved areas by the year 2030.guide to inclusive and effective implementation of cbs target 3 - a qlf senior vice president is leading the effort to develop a guide to implementing the 30x30 global initiative. This guide is written in collaboration with indigenous people, local communities, and the public and private sector worldwide. Protected areas and one health - scientific evidence is growing that land-use induced spillover is a major contributor to disease, via a pathway of landscape level processes that have an impact on the transmission of wildlife pathogens. Protected areas was established to protect biodiversity reduce and contain this risk. A senior vice president is the co-editor of a special issues of parks, the international journal of protected areas and conservation, on the impact of the sars-cov-2 on protected and conserved areas. Following this publication, he is working within the wcpa to establish a new task force on protected areas and one health. Policy notes, technical papers on protected areas, and other communication - a senior vice president writes policy notes, technical papers on protected areas, and other communication pieces such as a newsletter and webinar on biodiversity conservation for wcpa. World heritage - a qlf senior vice president continues to assist the international union for conservation of nature in its support to unesco in the world heritage program. This support consists of on-site evaluations and monitoring of world heritage sites.

Iii. Special projects - special projects are managed by the qlf president and president emeritus and consist of research on new conservation programs and initiatives both in-region and worldwide; new public/private conservation partnerships and consulting assignments in-region; and a three-year program review 2022-2024, which is managed by qlf's president. Qlf's president emeritus is writing a series of articles and essays on the history of the organization, program accomplishments, and many of the organization's constituents who are prominent and influential conservation leaders.

Ii. Conservation leadership programs in 2022, qlf's conservation and stewardship initiatives consisted of the following programs and projects: 1) conservation internships; and 2) investing in the next generation's conservation leaders. (1) conservation internships- the conservation internship program is managed by staff from the headquarters in Massachusetts. As conservation leadership is among qlf's highest priorities and historically a hallmark of our programs, qlf invests in the next generation of environmental leaders who are undergraduate and graduate students and young professionals. Each year, qlf supports up to 24 interns and young professionals, who represent academic institutions primarily from new england, in assignments to programs in qlf's home region: the maritimes, newfoundland and labrador, the quebec north shore along the gulf of st. lawrence; and new england. Internships provide hands-on, experiential training, and field work in biodiversity conservation, conservation and stewardship of marine environments, privately protected areas, and wildlife conservation. Internships are often directed in partnership with multiple organizations in-region. Internships based at qlf headquarters in ipswich, Massachusetts focus on communications, new regional and global initiatives, and special conservation assignments. The conservation internship program is an investment in the next generation's conservation leaders and stewards of our environment. (2) investing in the next generation's conservation leaders - based in Massachusetts, qlf manages a three-year program, investing in the next generation's conservation leaders across the great northern peninsula of newfoundland and southern labrador. Throughout the year, staff provide environmental education workshops to more than 300 youth across the great northern peninsula of newfoundland and southern labrador. The program is designed to inspire youth as the next generation's conservation leaders. Workshops focus on the impact of climate change on biodiversity conservation; seabirds, sea ducks, and migratory birds; marine mammals at risk; reducing marine debris and restoring marine ecosystems; and protection of wildlife and their habitats. This program is managed with several partner organizations in newfoundland and southern labrador.

Iv. Communications qlf completed the second season of its new webinar series, voices of qlf, which is broadcast live throughout the year. The series highlights the accomplishments of staff and alumni who are prominent conservation leaders in-region and worldwide. Each episode consists of interviews and informal dialogue exchange along with film, video, and photographs. Other qlf communication initiatives include the qlf website maintenance with articles and case studies conducted by staff and alumni, which are posted under the section, our impact. Other communications consist of social media, electronic news, online reports and publications. Qlf staff continue to write articles documenting the work of qlf's global leadership network of alumni.