The Nature Conservancy of Canada's Green Gifts Program is back this season for the 29th year of offering alternative, impactful gifts in the form of conserving pieces of the prairies.
The Green Gifts program allows people to give the unique holiday gift of nature conservation while supporting a boots-on-the-ground charity, the purchaser will also receive a charitable tax receipt.
Andrew Holland, national media relations director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, noted that more than 80 per cent of native prairie grasslands have been lost due to roads, developments, cultivation, and more.
"We're in a race to protect the best of what's left," explained Holland. "People can symbolically adopt an acre or hectare of grasslands and gift that to someone."
"It's a great idea if you have a nature lover on your list, an outdoors enthusiast, or someone who's really hard to buy for."
The recipient of the gift will receive certificate, an informational video, and either a digital landscape photo or a booklet describing the species of that particular habitat.
He highlighted how the Nature Conservancy, like many other charities at this time, have had to make the pivot from mail to digital gifts and donation opportunities with the ongoing postal strike.
"We encourage people to consider a gift that protects nature so it can continue to do what it does best; care for us all and make all life on Earth possible," Holland added. "This is a great opportunity to support conservation close to home."
Canada is home to 875 different at-risk species, a number of whom call the small patches of endangered native grasslands home.
For more information about Canada's largest environmental charity, visit the Nature Conservancy of Canada's website.