June 25, 2025
Winnipeg, MB, June 24, 2025
The Hudson Bay Lowlands provide nearly CAD 250 million in ecosystem goods and services (EGS) per year through the value of biodiversity conservation, hunting, tourism, and mental health benefits. This vast landscape also stores an estimated 7 billion tonnes of soil organic carbon.
This is all according to a new report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), commissioned by the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) that highlights the economic, environmental, and social benefits of conserving these 67,000 square kilometres.
“The Hudson Bay Lowlands are one of Canada’s most powerful climate solutions and is part of the largest wetland and peatland system in the world,” said Marina Puzyreva, Senior Policy Advisor at IISD. “The carbon storage value alone exceeds CAD 1.2 trillion, which is a substantial contribution in our efforts to mitigate climate change.”
The Hudson Bay Lowlands in northeastern Manitoba is one of the world’s most ecologically intact landscapes and, according to new research, provides millions in economic value every year. The region also holds immense value due to its rich Indigenous heritage, globally significant carbon stocks, and diverse wildlife—making it an excellent candidate for conservation.
The Lowlands are not only ecologically significant, they are culturally vital. Five Indigenous Nations—York Factory First Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, and Shamattawa First Nation—are working to conserve a vast expanse of this region as an Indigenous Protected Area and safeguard lands, waters, and ways of life.
“Protecting the Hudson Bay Lowlands means honouring generations of Indigenous stewardship and ensuring this globally significant landscape remains intact for our grandchildren’s grandchildren,” said Ron Thiessen, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s Manitoba Chapter.
The Lowlands cover nearly 10% of Manitoba’s landmass. Conserving large areas of this region would significantly advance the provincial government’s commitment to increase protected lands and waters for future generations, a critical step in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.
Read the full report here: Hudson Bay Lowlands Ecosystem Valuation
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Media Contact
Ron Thiessen
Executive Director, CPAWS Manitoba
About IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 250 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.
About CPAWS Manitoba
The Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS Manitoba) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting Manitoba’s lands and waters for future generations. Founded in 1991, we are proudly built in Manitoba and committed to making sure the voice of conservation is heard on issues that affect our parks, wild spaces, and natural heritage.
We take a grassroots, science-based, and respectful approach to conservation—working collaboratively with communities, Indigenous Nations, and governments to safeguard nature and ensure sustainable land-use decisions. Our efforts have helped establish 23 parks and protected areas across the province, covering nearly 26,000 square kilometres—an area larger than Lake Winnipeg.
As Manitobans, we live, work, and play here—and we are passionate about protecting what makes this province so special.
Background Information
What are Ecological Goods and Services (EGS)?
Nature has value, whether instrumental, relational, and/or intrinsic. Instrumental values are services from nature to people (i.e. ecological goods and services), intrinsic value is the concept of the inherent value of nature regardless of any human use, and relational values capture relationships with, and responsibilities to, nature.
Ecological Goods and Services are tangible and intangible benefits that people derive from ecosystem functioning. These EGS can either be material or non-material to humans. There are three categories of ecological goods and services:
- Provisioning services: goods and services that can be extracted or harvested from ecosystems for consumption, such as food, fuel, and drinking water.
- Regulating services: the ecosystem regulating biological processes such as flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, erosion control.
- Cultural services: intangible services that provide cultural benefits such as spiritual and recreational services.
Why Study Ecological Goods and Services?
Ecological Goods and Services Reports can help inform conservation efforts and land-use planning. Estimating the value of EGS in physical and monetary units helps decision-makers better understand nature’s previously undervalued contributions to people and the economy, and informs more sustainable use of natural resources and long-term societal well-being.
How are Ecological Goods and Services Evaluated?
There are multiple ways to estimate the economic value of Ecological Goods and Services.
Information can be:
- observed in existing economic markets.
- derived from observations of market behaviours.
- obtained through conducting analyses of hypothetical markets.
Please see the full report for a full description of methods used.
Where are the Hudson Bay Lowlands?
The Manitoba part of the Hudson Bay Lowlands covers an area of 67, 181 km2 and is located in the northern part of the province. The Hudson Bay Lowlands stretch along Manitoba and into Ontario and Quebec. The coastline of Hudson Bay in Manitoba has a total length of approximately 645 km. The region is drained by several important rivers, including the Hayes River, the Churchill River, and the Nelson River.