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During the 2025 ̽����ѡ Leadership Conference in Montréal, Québec, Canada, ̽����ѡ celebrated the power of conservation and community by honoring outstanding individual leaders and partner organizations making the biggest impacts across the hemisphere for the benefit of birds, people, and the planet. The Hemispheric Conservation Award Winner this year was the . The award was given in recognition for their work to conserve and permanently protect a vast 12-million-acre landscape of forests, wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers in Northern Manitoba as an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).

The Seal River Watershed is one of the few remaining intact watersheds of significant size in the world. Not only is the watershed a biodiversity-rich hotspot, but it also acts as a natural climate solution. One of the key factors in their case for permanent protection is the strong prevalence of birds. ̽����ѡ has been supporting and collaborating with the Alliance for several years, helping to showcase the global importance of the region. The watershed provides critically important breeding and migratory stop-over habitat for millions of birds of hundreds of species including the White-crowned Sparrow, Common Loon, and Arctic Tern. And the birds are not alone. They are joined by caribou, bears, beluga whales, and countless other species that all thrive in this vitally important Boreal region in Canada.

Vice president of ̽����ѡ’s Canada program Dr. Jeff Wells commented, “The Indigenous-led conservation work of the Seal River Watershed Alliance truly has a hemispheric impact. Birds that nest in the watershed migrate south to locations across the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and both Central and South America. Arctic Terns spend winters even further south in sub-Antarctic waters.” Wells continued, “I cannot think of a more worthy recipient of this award, and I congratulate them on gaining the much-deserved recognition for their hard work.”

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About ̽����ѡ:

The ̽����ѡ is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. ̽����ѡ works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, ̽����ѡ drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, ̽����ѡ is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at  and on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Media Contact:  
Rebecca Sentner, rebecca.sentner@audubon.org