Harvey Locke

Harvey Locke, born on May 22, 1959, is a distinguished Canadian conservationist, writer, and photographer, renowned for his leadership in parks, wilderness, wildlife, and large landscape conservation. His commitment to environmental stewardship is exemplified through his role as a founder of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, which aims to establish a continuous wildlife corridor stretching from Yellowstone National Park in the United States to the Yukon in Northern Canada.

In 2017, Locke was appointed chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Beyond the Aichi Targets Task Force. This pivotal role focuses on ensuring that the new global conservation targets, set to be discussed at the next Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2020, are impactful in halting biodiversity loss and promoting the conservation of nature.

Locke's contributions to conservation have not gone unnoticed. In 1999, he was recognized as one of Canada's leaders for the twenty-first century by Time magazine Canada. His accolades include the J.B. Harkin Medal for Conservation and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, both awarded in 2013, as well as the Fred M. Packard Award for outstanding service to protected areas from the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas in 2014. That same year, he also received the Gold Leaf Award from the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, honoring his extraordinary commitment to advancing the cause of parks and ecological integrity.

Additionally, Locke is a co-founder of the Nature Needs Half Movement, which advocates for the protection of half of the Earth's land and water to ensure a sustainable future for all species. His work continues to inspire and mobilize efforts towards a more sustainable and ecologically connected world.