Flagship projects of the QCBS

The Impact of the Circular Economy on Biodiversity Conservation: Towards an Integrated Approach to Support Decision-Making

Under the Quebec Nature Plan 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Quebec has committed to protecting 30% of its territory by 2030. But protecting natural areas alone is not enough. Economic activities taking place outside these zones continue to exert considerable pressure on ecosystems, through resource extraction, waste production, and the resulting emissions. This is why the circular economy represents a complementary and essential lever: by reducing this pressure at the source, it can directly contribute to conservation goals. With a circularity index that, according to the updated 2025 methodology, stands at only 1.9%, one of the lowest among developed economies, Quebec’s room for improvement is substantial. Yet the tools to concretely quantify its impact on biodiversity are still lacking.

This transdisciplinary research project, unique in Canada, is driven by an unprecedented collaboration between the Quebec Circular Economy Research Network (RRECQ), the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science (QCBS), SNAP Quebec and Biodiversity Quebec. By seeking to fill a critical gap in the ecological transition, namely the quantification of the benefits of the circular economy for biodiversity, it draws on the development of an integrated conceptual framework, case studies in key sectors of the Quebec economy, collaborative workshops bringing together researchers, governments and economic and institutional stakeholders, and culminates in concrete indicators and decision-support tools. The goal is to provide decision-makers with the means to make the circular transition a genuine lever for preserving Quebec’s natural capital.

Maximizing the value and reuse of biodiversity research data in Québec

Scientific research generates vast amounts of valuable data through field studies, monitoring programs, and ecological surveys. However, much of this information remains difficult to reuse beyond the original study due to fragmented storage, limited documentation, or incompatible formats. A new initiative aims to change that by improving how biodiversity data are documented, preserved, and shared in Québec.

The project is establishing a coordinated framework to preserve biodiversity datasets for the long term. By considering reliable storage systems, implementing robust data management procedures, and ensuring proper attribution to the researchers who generated the data, isolated datasets are transformed into durable scientific infrastructure that remains intact and accessible for future research.

Building on this foundation, the initiative focuses on making datasets easy to find, integrate, and reuse across studies and regions. By adopting common metadata standards and shared vocabularies, along with consistent licensing practices, datasets become discoverable, citable, and ready to support collaborative research and broader scientific analyses at a larger scale.

The initiative will also strengthen connections between Québec’s research community and broader biodiversity data networks. By enabling structured data sharing and collaboration with strategic partners, the project will help increase the visibility and reuse of Québec biodiversity data in both provincial and international research efforts.

These efforts will enable biodiversity datasets collected across the province to contribute more effectively to scientific synthesis, ecological modelling, and evidence-based conservation planning.

Assesment of the State of Biodiversity and Nature’s

Contributions to People in Québec

Understanding how biodiversity is changing is essential for guiding conservation and policy. A new initiative aims to produce a comprehensive scientific assessment of biodiversity in Québec, bringing together researchers, data sources, and knowledge systems to create a clear picture of the province’s ecosystems.

The project will synthesize existing research, monitoring data, and expert knowledge to evaluate the status and trends of biodiversity, the drivers of change, and the implications for ecosystems and society. By integrating diverse evidence sources—including scientific studies, ecological indicators, and Indigenous and local knowledge—the assessment will provide a robust foundation for understanding how biodiversity is evolving across the province.

Beyond describing current conditions, the initiative will also examine future scenarios and policy-relevant insights. This will help decision-makers better anticipate how land use, climate change, and economic pressures may shape biodiversity in the coming decades. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the link between biodiversity science and decision-making, supporting initiatives such as Québec’s Nature Plan 2030 and other conservation strategies.

By consolidating knowledge and identifying gaps, the assessment will serve as a shared reference for researchers, policymakers, and the public, helping Québec move toward more informed and adaptive biodiversity governance.