Collaborative environmental work connecting science, justice, and sustainability

COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION

Three countries working together to protect our shared environment

In the Spotlight

Join the Monarch Blitz’s 10th Anniversary: Every Observation Matters

Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), 23 July 2026—The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is just around the corner! From 31 July to 9 August 2026, we invite everyone across North America to head outside and search for monarch butterflies and milkweed plants.

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Featured Project

Tracking Pollutant Releases and Transfers in North America

Initiative Active Pollutants

The CEC's North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (NAPRTR) Initiative promotes public access to data and information reported by industrial facilities in North America, in order to improve understanding of the sources and management of pollutants of common concern across the region and support decision-making relative to pollution prevention...

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Nuclear power plant - AirNow

Featured Publication

Social Science Insights on Management Practices in the Central Grasslands of North America

A Literature Review

March 18, 2026 60 pages Ecosystems

The Central Grasslands of North America support critical biodiversity and human communities, yet continue to decline due to cropland conversion, climate change and other threats. This literature review synthesizes existing conservation social science research to better understand how grassland management decisions are made and how this knowledge can be more effectively integrated into conservation delivery. Using a systematic review approach, the literature review analyzes 104 sources, including peer-reviewed articles, technical reports and graduate theses, to identify common management behaviors, key factors influencing conservation decisions and barriers that limit participation.

This literature review is intended for conservation practitioners, researchers, policymakers and outreach professionals. It highlights gaps in current research, particularly the underrepresentation of Indigenous communities and marginalized voices, and emphasizes the need for more participatory, transdisciplinary approaches. The findings offer actionable insights to improve conservation program design, outreach strategies and collaboration, supporting more effective, equitable and locally grounded grassland conservation across the Central Grasslands.

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What We Do

We conduct research, provide tools and training, and provide a unique space for decision-makers and the public to engage on environmental policy issues affecting the North American region.

About the CEC