30 years of Raincoast’s reach
Our influence stretches internationally, with our researchers and scientists contributing to groundbreaking work across the globe.
In 1996, Raincoast Conservation Foundation was established as a charitable organization in British Columbia. With such a strong presence in this province, it’s not always appreciated just how far Raincoast’s efforts stretch beyond BC. Since the beginning thirty years ago, we’ve grown to have international influence, with our researchers and scientists contributing to groundbreaking work across the globe.
Each sphere represents where we’ve been; locations where we’ve conducted on-the-ground scientific studies, engaged in powerful partnerships to inform industry and government decision makers, or bolstered law-changing campaigns that upheld our vision to protect umbrella species, ultimately safeguarding all species, including humans.
For example, we spearheaded a multi-partner initiative that resulted in banning the importation of grizzly hunt trophies from Canada into the European Union. We have shared our research findings in capitals such as Washington DC, Brussels, and Ottawa, bringing BC’s unparalleled biodiversity to the world.
Because the species we strive to protect move freely across political boundaries, our conservation efforts must reflect that same breadth of perspective and responsibility. Salmon, killer whales, and wolves, as well as other wide ranging mammals and migratory birds, know no borders. As such, we champion conservation decisions and support research beyond BC’s boundaries to other parts of Canada, and in the jurisdictions of our neighbours in the Pacific Northwest, as well as into California, Montana, Colorado, and Alaska.
Looking to 2026 and beyond, we will reach Iceland and Australia, using data from a recent pilot project to advance understanding of killer whale communication and the effects of underwater noise impacts throughout international populations.
Partnerships have been central to everything we’ve accomplished; through this, we learn from others — a practice that lies at the heart of who we are. Our collaborations include First Nations, Indigenous communities, local jurisdictions, and governments at provincial, national, and international levels. We also maintain strong relationships with academic institutions, and vital alliances with NGOs that share our vision for thriving ecosystems and wildlife.
This is an excerpt from our annual report, Tracking Raincoast into 2026.
