The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is once again holding its 29th annual Green Gifts program for the nature-lover on your Christmas shopping list.
If you are searching for a gift for an outdoor enthusiast, the program allows people to “adopt” wildlife or natural landscapes from across Canada—and you can do it in someone’s name as a Christmas gift.
“In many ways, this is a perfect gift for last-minute shoppers if you have a nature-lover on your list, an outdoor enthusiast, or someone who has everything. They might be difficult to buy for, or they don’t need another tie or sweater. Here’s something that’s meaningful and long-lasting,” explained NCC spokesperson Andrew Holland.
Those making a donation can choose to symbolically adopt at-risk species such as monarch butterflies, foxes, wolves, snowy owls, and more.
Another option is to support the conservation of habitats for those at-risk species, including Prairies and Parkland, Boreal Forest, Great Lakes, Canadian Rockies, and more. In the Moose Jaw area, NCC is working to preserve habitats such as Buffalo Pound and the Mackie Ranch property near Chaplin Lake.
The person purchasing the gift will receive a charitable tax receipt, while the recipient will get a digital certificate, a photo of the animal or natural space adopted on their behalf, and an information booklet about NCC’s conservation efforts.
Holland noted that, due to the Canada Post strike, they will not be doing their usual mailouts this year, including their 2025 calendar.
All funds raised through the Green Gifts program will go towards NCC’s conservation efforts for forests, wetlands, native prairie grasslands, and shorelines. Over the past 29 years, the program has raised more than $3 million to conserve habitat for at-risk species.
Holland said the program comes at an important time, as NCC is in the midst of its Prairie Grasslands Action Plan, which aims to protect 500,000 hectares of native prairie grasslands in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
“All funds raised go towards our work to preserve these original native prairie grasslands. Over 80 per cent of them have been lost, so we’re in a race to protect the best of what’s left,” said Holland.
More information about the Green Gifts program can be found at www.giving.natureconservancy.ca.
To learn more about NCC’s conservation efforts in Saskatchewan, visit https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/saskatchewan/featured-projects/.