Mexico, Canada Renew Cooperation on Protected Areas

Mexico and Canada will continue working together to advance biodiversity conservation, the protection of ecosystems and their services, and climate change mitigation through the effective management of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs).

Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and Parks Canada renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue advancing shared priorities. These include climate change adaptation, the development of nature-based solutions, the management of coastal and marine protected areas, environmental awareness, and the participation of Indigenous peoples in the management of Natural Protected Areas, all within a context of increasing pressure on biodiversity and strategically important ecosystems worldwide.

The direct precedent for this agreement was the memorandum signed by both parties in 2019, which concluded in 2024 and established a framework under which the institutions carried out cooperation activities that contributed to the conservation and management of national parks and other NPAs, within the scope of their respective mandates.

Renewing this collaboration will deepen bilateral cooperation through coordinated efforts, shared research and the exchange of best practices. The signatory institutions will jointly advance the international commitments undertaken to conserve biodiversity, protect ecosystems and their services, and address climate change through effective NPA management. These actions will be implemented through jointly agreed work plans between the responsible institutions.

Alicia Bárcena, Minister of Environment, highlighted that Mexico and Canada share more than 81 years of diplomatic relations, 31 years of free trade, and 21 years of cooperation under the Mexico–Canada partnership. “We have a resilient bilateral relationship with a forward-looking vision that depends on a strong and sustained commitment between our governments,” she stated.

She added that the agreement reaffirms both countries’ conviction that international cooperation is essential to address the global environmental crisis. “In this way, we translate our international commitments into concrete actions to protect biodiversity, restore strategic ecosystems and build resilience to climate change, for the benefit of present and future generations,” she underscored.

Pedro Álvarez-Icaza, Director of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), said that with the signing of the memorandum, Mexico and Canada reaffirm their commitment to working together to protect biodiversity and develop nature-based solutions, in line with international commitments and the Canada–Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028. “The urgency of this effort lies in ensuring that future generations inherit healthy and resilient ecosystems capable of sustaining life and the well-being of our communities,” he said.

Julie Aviva, Canada’s Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, said that through Parks Canada’s leadership in conservation science, partnerships with Indigenous peoples and protected-area management, the renewed partnership brings both countries even closer. “Together, we are advancing nature-based solutions, strengthening protected areas and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come,” she noted.

Ron Hallman, President and CEO, Parks Canada, said that renewing the agreement strengthens the shared commitment to protecting nature. “By collaborating and sharing expertise, Parks Canada and CONANP are helping ensure that future generations inherit healthy ecosystems and meaningful opportunities to connect with nature,” he underscored.

The renewal of the memorandum of understanding falls under the Environment and Sustainability pillar of the Mexico–Canada Action Plan 2025–2028, agreed upon and presented last September by President Sheinbaum and Prime Minister Carney as a roadmap to identify priorities and guide strategic actions for the bilateral relationship. The agreement contributes to translating high-level bilateral commitments into concrete environmental cooperation actions.

Quintana Roo Strengthens Protected Areas Management

Also regarding the management of natural areas, Quintana Roo is strengthening its environmental conservation strategy, as more than 30% of its territory remains under some category of protection.

During a meeting between Álvarez-Icaza and Mara Lezama, Governor of Quintana Roo, officials focused on reviewing strategic programs and projects aimed at protecting ecosystems while promoting orderly and sustainable development in the state.

They highlighted that the scale of protected land represents both a significant responsibility and an opportunity to consolidate a development model that balances environmental conservation, territorial planning and social well-being. Quintana Roo’s protected areas are considered critical amid continued urban and tourism growth.

Lezama said the state’s environmental policy is aligned with Mexico’s international commitments, particularly the 30×30 target under the Convention on Biological Diversity, which seeks to protect at least 30% of terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030.

The governor emphasized that conservation policies must be implemented through an environmental justice approach, placing communities that have historically served as ecosystem stewards at the center of decision-making. As an example, she cited artisanal fishers in Punta Herrero, whose livelihoods depend directly on the health of surrounding protected areas.

Both officials agreed that environmental conservation can only be sustainable if it translates into social well-being, economic opportunities and equitable development for local communities. The approach seeks to protect biodiversity while reinforcing the state’s social and productive fabric.

Álvarez- Icaza stressed the need to strengthen coordination between federal and state governments to ensure that protected areas have effective management frameworks, permanent monitoring and sustainable-use programs that generate tangible benefits for local populations.

The meeting concluded with a shared view that natural protected areas must be consolidated as part of an integrated public policy, one that protects ecosystems while supporting long-term social and economic development in Quintana Roo.