Photo by Rafael Peier on Unsplash (illustrative)
On 4 December 2025, the United Nations named Respectful Returns, a Parks Canada program run with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, a World Restoration Flagship. Since 2010 it has been repairing damaged rivers, streams and surrounding land in seven national parks on Canada's Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
Key facts
The program has restored more than 65,000 hectares of land and 228 kilometers of waterways.
Salmon numbers have increased at six of the seven sites.
It works with 32 organizations and communities, including the Council of the Haida Nation and several Mi'kmaq and other First Nations.
The work has created more than 100 jobs and supported research at three universities.
Why it matters
Salmon rivers link forests, streams and the sea, and their health matters for wildlife and for Indigenous communities whose cultures and livelihoods are tied to salmon. Restoring whole river systems, guided by Indigenous knowledge and science, helps both the ecosystems and those relationships recover.
Worth noting
Salmon spend much of their lives outside park boundaries, so restoration inside the parks is only part of the picture. Results vary by site, and one of the seven has not yet seen salmon numbers rise.