Canada's conserved areas

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Conserved areas safeguard biodiversity for present and future generations by reducing stresses from human activities. They also provide opportunities for people to connect with nature. Conserved areas include protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Protected areas include national/provincial/territorial parks, Indigenous protected areas, national wildlife areas, migratory bird sanctuaries and marine protected areas. OECMs are areas that do not meet the formal definition of protected area but are managed in a way that conserves biodiversity over the long term. Examples of OECMs can include: Indigenous territories, watersheds or resource management areas, and areas with restricted access, such as those used by the military. These indicators track the amount and proportion of area recognized as conserved in Canada.

Many countries use protected areas as the core of their programs to preserve biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services. Canada has set a target to conserve 25% of its lands and 25% of its oceans by 2025, and 30% of each by 2030.  In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, including Canada, set an aspirational target to conserve at least 30% of terrestrial areas and inland waters, and 30% of marine areas, by 2030. This is one of 23 targets collectively known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

National

National conserved areas

Key results

  • At the end of 2022, Canada had conserved
    • 13.6% of its terrestrial area (land and freshwater), including 12.7% in protected areas
    • 14.7% of its marine territory, including 9.1% in protected areas
  • Terrestrial area conserved has increased by almost 113% in the last 20 years and by 32% in the last 5 years
  • Marine area conserved has increased by more than 3 500% in the last 20 years and by almost 145% in the last 5 years

Proportion of area conserved, Canada, 1990 to 2022

Proportion of area conserved, Canada, 1990 to 2021 (see data table below for the long description)
Data table for the long description
Proportion of area conserved, Canada, 1990 to 2022
Year Terrestrial area protected
(square kilometres)
Percentage of terrestrial area protected Terrestrial area conserved
(square kilometres)
Percentage of terrestrial area conserved Marine area protected
(square kilometres)
Percentage of marine area protected Marine area conserved
(square kilometres)
Percentage of marine area conserved
1990 449 507 4.5 449 507 4.5 17 252 0.3 17 252 0.3
1991 449 981 4.5 449 981 4.5 17 271 0.3 17 271 0.3
1992 465 274 4.7 465 274 4.7 17 696 0.3 17 696 0.3
1993 480 175 4.8 480 175 4.8 17 942 0.3 17 942 0.3
1994 483 693 4.8 483 693 4.8 17 946 0.3 17 946 0.3
1995 514 891 5.2 514 891 5.2 19 714 0.3 19 714 0.3
1996 533 040 5.3 533 040 5.3 20 575 0.4 20 575 0.4
1997 541 668 5.4 541 668 5.4 20 597 0.4 20 597 0.4
1998 568 695 5.7 568 695 5.7 22 579 0.4 22 579 0.4
1999 591 877 5.9 591 877 5.9 22 812 0.4 22 812 0.4
2000 601 315 6.0 601 315 6.0 22 910 0.4 22 910 0.4
2001 629 401 6.3 629 401 6.3 22 943 0.4 22 943 0.4
2002 636 748 6.4 636 748 6.4 23 147 0.4 23 147 0.4
2003 688 079 6.9 688 079 6.9 26 347 0.5 26 347 0.5
2004 699 457 7.0 699 457 7.0 28 746 0.5 28 746 0.5
2005 726109 7.3 726109 7.3 30167 0.5 30167 0.5
2006 732 969 7.3 732 969 7.3 30 518 0.5 30 518 0.5
2007 759 088 7.6 759 088 7.6 30 712 0.5 30 712 0.5
2008 810 508 8.1 810 508 8.1 39 591 0.7 39 591 0.7
2009 841 987 8.4 841 987 8.4 40 146 0.7 40 146 0.7
2010 853 520 8.5 853 520 8.5 49 334 0.9 49 334 0.9
2011 879 504 8.8 879 504 8.8 49 420 0.9 49 420 0.9
2012 921 234 9.2 921 234 9.2 49 421 0.9 49 421 0.9
2013 955 194 9.6 955 194 9.6 50 069 0.9 50 069 0.9
2014 957 149 9.6 957 149 9.6 50 069 0.9 50 069 0.9
2015 1 017 570 10.2 1 017 570 10.2 52 619 0.9 52 619 0.9
2016 1 021 781 10.2 1 021 781 10.2 54 977 1.0 54 977 1.0
2017 1 022 749 10.2 1 022 749 10.2 61 751 1.1 344 454 6.0
2018 1 090 091 10.9 1 126 212 11.3 73 209 1.3 355 910 6.2
2019 1 131 466 11.3 1 209 430 12.1 511 860 8.9 794 564 13.8
2020 1 215 832 12.2 1 293 802 13.0 524 311 9.1 798 866 13.9
2021 1 257 606 12.6 1 348 395 13.5 524 311 9.1 798 866 13.9
2022 1 264 076 12.7 1 355 029 13.6 524 311 9.1 842 828 14.7

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How this indicator was calculated

Note: Terrestrial area includes both land and freshwater. Area conserved includes area protected as well as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). In Canada, marine and terrestrial OECMs were formally recognized in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Trends are estimated based on the date a site was reported and recognized as a protected area or OECM in the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database. This is a change from previous versions of the indicator where the date a site was established was used, as such the totals for previous years may have changed. For more information on the recent changes and the definition of protected areas and OECMs, please refer to the Data sources and methods. Canada's terrestrial territory is 9 984 670 square kilometres (km2) and its marine territory is approximately 5 750 000 km2. Overlaps among protected areas and among OECMs were accounted for. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2022) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

In 2019, Canada added 319 000 km2 of marine protected area with the addition of the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area conserving 13.8% of its marine territory. Then in 2022, the Eastern Canyons Conservation Area was added, contributing an additional 44 000 km2  of marine area conserved.

The distribution and size of conserved areas in Canada can vary. Larger terrestrial conserved areas tend to be located in northern Canada, where there is less intensive use of land for agriculture, settlements, and road networks. Larger marine conserved areas tend to be located in offshore areas or in northern Canada, where human uses are often less intensive. In landscapes and seascapes with competing uses, conserved areas tend to be smaller but more numerous.

In Canada, over 65% of all terrestrial areas conserved are managed by provincial and territorial jurisdictions. The remaining terrestrial areas are primarily managed by Parks Canada (26%) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (9%) (see Table 1).Footnote 1 Canada'’s marine conserved areas are managed almost entirely by 3 federal departments: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (79%), Parks Canada (14%) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (almost 4%). About 3% of the areas are managed provincially (see Table 2). 

Conserved areas, Canada, 2022

Conserved areas, Canada, 2021 (see long description below)
Long description

The map of Canada shows the distribution and size of terrestrial (land and freshwater) and marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures in 2022.

Data for the map

Navigate data using the interactive map

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Terrestrial area includes land and freshwater. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2022) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

Ecological areas

Conserved areas, by ecological area

Canada's territory can be divided into 31 terrestrial and marine ecozones. Terrestrial ecozones are further divided into 215 terrestrial ecoregions. A representative conserved areas network should conserve biodiversity across all of Canada's ecological areas. 

Conserved areas, by ecozone

An ecozone is a broad area of the Earth's surface that has a distinct climate and biodiversity.

Key results

  • All of Canada's ecozones have some level of protection, ranging from less than 1% to almost 40% of the ecozone being conserved
  • Six (6) terrestrial ecozones, the Tundra Cordillera, the Taiga Cordillera, the Pacific Maritime, the Montane Cordillera, the Arctic Cordillera and the Southern Arctic, have more than 20% of their area conserved
  • Three (3) marine ecozones, the Arctic Basin, the Offshore Pacific and the Eastern Arctic, have more than 20% of their area conserved
  • 13.4% of the Canadian area of the Great Lakes is conserved

Proportion of area conserved, by ecozone, Canada, 2022

Proportion of area conserved, by ecozone, Canada, 2021 (see data table below for the long description)
Data table for the long description
Proportion of area conserved, by ecozone, Canada, 2022
Ecozone name Ecozone code Ecozone area
(square kilometres)
Area protected
(square kilometres)
Percentage of region protected Other effective area-based conservation measures
(square kilometres)
Area conserved
(square kilometres)
Percentage of region conserved
Arctic Cordillera CL01 229 513 51 891 22.6 0 51 891 22.6
Northern Arctic CL02 1 479 561 105 970 7.2 0 105 970 7.2
Southern Arctic CL03 958 299 186 164 19.4 6 772 192 936 20.1
Taiga Plains CL04 553 374 61 138 11.0 18 199 79 337 14.3
Taiga Shield CL05 1 322 962 170 296 12.9 1 032 171 329 13.0
Boreal Shield CL06 1 902 001 219 210 11.5 39 219 249 11.5
Atlantic Maritime CL07 110 590 11 989 10.8 207 12 196 11.0
Mixedwood Plains CL08 115 395 2 885 2.5 45 2 930 2.5
Boreal Plains CL09 780 010 66 166 8.5 5 022 71 188 9.1
Prairies CL10 464 422 18 368 4.0 9 669 28 037 6.0
Montane Cordillera CL11 436 791 82 538 18.9 17 069 99 606 22.8
Pacific Maritime CL12 217 022 52 599 24.2 7 439 60 038 27.7
Boreal Cordillera CL13 557 860 96 630 17.3 9 675 106 305 19.1
Taiga Cordillera CL14 231 266 56 369 24.4 10 505 66 874 28.9
Hudson Plains CL15 348 406 50 785 14.6 0 50 785 14.6
Tundra Cordillera CL16 28 887 8 140 28.2 3 197 11 336 39.2
Atlantic Highlands CL17 93 012 5 608 6.0 0 5 608 6.0
Semi-Arid Plateaus CL18 56 464 5 399 9.6 2 083 7 482 13.3
Strait of Georgia CW19 8 969 426 4.8 32 458 5.1
Southern Shelf CW20 28 158 785 2.8 0 785 2.8
Offshore Pacific CW21 315 724 10 547 3.3 82 431 92 977 29.4
Northern Shelf CW22 101 663 16 651 16.4 0 16 651 16.4
Arctic Basin CW23 752 053 284 091 37.8 0 284 091 37.8
Western Arctic CW24 539 807 12 060 2.2 0 12 060 2.2
Arctic Archipelago CW25 268 792 38 923 14.5 0 38 923 14.5
Eastern Arctic CW26 782 636 115 296 14.7 58 725 174 021 22.2
Hudson Bay Complex CW27 1 244 670 8 684 0.7 0 8 684 0.7
Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves CW28 1 041 588 12 577 1.2 110 960 123 537 11.9
Scotian Shelf CW29 416 296 6 000 1.4 58 651 64 651 15.5
Gulf of Saint Lawrence CW30 246 648 18 270 7.4 7 718 25 988 10.5
Great Lakes CW31 89 236 11 932 13.4 0 11 932 13.4

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 2.45 kB)

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Area conserved includes area protected as well as area conserved with other measures. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2022) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

Terrestrial ecozones with high levels of urbanization and development or widespread agriculture tend to have small proportions of conserved area. For example, the Mixedwood Plains (in southern Ontario and along the St. Lawrence River) has only 2.5% of its area conserved and the Prairies has 6%. On the other hand, terrestrial ecozones with a high proportion of conserved area tend to be remote or have high recreation value. For example, ecozones in the western mountain ranges have 19% or more of their area conserved.

Recent efforts have rapidly increased the amount of area conserved in some marine ecozones. Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area in the Arctic Basin is the largest marine protected area in Canada, increasing the proportion of the ecozone protected from less than 1% to 37.8%. Marine refugesFootnote 2  in the Offshore Pacific, Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves and Gulf of St. Lawrence have helped to conserve more than 10% of each of these ecozones. However, the Hudson Bay Complex, Western Arctic and Southern Shelf ecozones have less than 5% of their area conserved.

Each ecozone is unique, and conservation involves the inclusion of areas that are representative of different parts of the ecozone and sites of special value. Challenges to establishing conserved areas include competition from other uses, such as agriculture, industry or urban development, and limitations on the extent of ecologically intact areas available within the ecozone.

Conserved areas, by ecoregion

Ecoregions are subdivisions of ecozones characterized by distinctive regional attributes. These include climate, landforms, vegetation, soil, flora and fauna.

Key results

  • 94% of Canada's ecoregions have some level of protection, ranging from less than 1% to 100% of the ecoregion being conserved
  • Of the 216 ecoregions in Canada,
    • 71% (153 ecoregions) have less than 17% of their area conserved
    • 13% (28 ecoregions) have between 17% and 30% of their area conserved
    • 16% (35 ecoregions) have more than 30% of their area conserved

Proportion of area conserved, by ecoregion, Canada, 2022

Proportion of area conserved, by ecoregion, Canada, 2021 (see data table below for the long description)
Data table for the long description
Proportion of area conserved, by ecoregion, Canada, 2022
Ecoregion name Ecoregion code Ecoregion area
(square kilometres)
Area protected
(square kilometres)
Percentage of region protected Other effective area-based conservation measures
(square kilometres)
Area conserved
(square kilometres)
Percentage of region conserved
Ellesmere and Devon Island Ice Caps CL01R01 113 244 14 119 12.5 0 14 119 12.5
Baffin Mountains CL01R02 87 928 27 592 31.4 0 27 592 31.4
Baffin Islands Coastal Lowlands CL01R03 9 159 476 5.2 0 476 5.2
Torngat Mountains CL01R04 19 182 9 764 50.9 0 9 764 50.9
Ellesmere Mountains CL02R01 53 112 6 198 11.7 0 6 198 11.7
Eureka Hills CL02R02 75 769 15 492 20.4 0 15 492 20.4
Polar Islands CL02R03 21 353 0 0 0 0 0
Sverdrup Islands Lowland CL02R04 28 971 0 0 0 0 0
Lancaster Plateau CL02R05 102 430 78 0.1 0 78 0.1
High Arctic CL02R06 25 939 3 684 14.2 0 3 684 14.2
Central Melville Upland CL02R07 15 210 0 0 0 0 0
Parry Islands Plateau CL02R08 43 593 12 266 28.1 0 12 266 28.1
Mid Arctic West CL02R09 42 701 26 588 62.3 0 26 588 62.3
Mid Arctic East CL02R10 91 488 362 0.4 0 362 0.4
Low Arctic North CL02R11 9 859 859 8.7 0 859 8.7
Shaler Mountains CL02R12 26 327 0 0 0 0 0
Amundsen Gulf Lowlands CL02R13 49 141 22 0 0 22 0
Victoria Islands Lowland CL02R14 123 129 0 0 0 0 0
Prince of Wales Island Lowland CL02R15 17 150 0 0 0 0 0
Boothia Peninsula Plateau CL02R16 35 701 0 0 0 0 0
Gulf of Boothia Plain CL02R17 24 426 13 0.1 0 13 0.1
Borden Peninsula Plateau CL02R18 31 473 11 822 37.6 0 11 822 37.6
Melville Peninsula Plateau CL02R19 111 290 11 0 0 11 0
Baffin Island Uplands CL02R20 79 703 1 597 2.0 0 1 597 2.0
Wager Bay Plateau CL02R21 250 876 18 440 7.4 0 18 440 7.4
Foxe Basin Plain CL02R22 56 549 6 914 12.2 0 6 914 12.2
Meta Incognita Peninsula CL02R23 77 447 1 223 1.6 0 1 223 1.6
Pangnirtung Upland CL02R24 34 271 40 0.1 0 40 0.1
Hall Peninsula Upland CL02R25 35 389 0 0 0 0 0
Baffin Upland CL02R26 16 265 302 1.9 0 302 1.9
Yukon Coastal Plain CL03R01 4 652 2 478 53.3 0 2 478 53.3
West Lowlands CL03R02 24 729 1 177 4.8 0 1 177 4.8
Central Lowlands CL03R03 14 847 337 2.3 0 337 2.3
East Lowlands CL03R04 5 112 101 2.0 0 101 2.0
East Highlands CL03R05 22 546 16 696 74.1 0 16 696 74.1
Bathurst Hills CL03R07 8 986 1 0 0 1 0
Queen Maud Gulf Lowland CL03R09 66 172 43 449 65.7 0 43 449 65.7
Chantrey Inlet Lowland CL03R10 21 959 2 163 9.9 0 2 163 9.9
Back River Plain CL03R12 33 117 14 989 45.3 0 14 989 45.3
Dubawnt Lake Plain and Upland CL03R13 54 322 14 869 27.4 0 14 869 27.4
Maguse River Upland CL03R14 78 598 257 0.3 0 257 0.3
Southampton Island Plain CL03R15 37 903 1 463 3.9 0 1 463 3.9
Ottawa Islands CL03R16 410 0 0 0 0 0
Belcher Islands CL03R17 3 214 13 0.4 0 13 0.4
Ungava Peninsula CL03R18 240 236 39 313 16.4 0 39 313 16.4
Northern Labrador Highlands CL03R19 38 496 16 202 42.1 0 16 202 42.1
West-central Uplands CL04R09 10 647 683 6.4 0 683 6.4
Mackenzie Plain CL04R10 18 388 1 439 7.8 0 1 439 7.8
Bulmer Plain CL04R11 17 255 1 370 7.9 0 1 370 7.9
Horn Plateau CL04R12 9 404 6 946 73.9 0 6 946 73.9
Great Slave Plain CL04R13 15 877 116 0.7 0 116 0.7
Southern Uplands CL04R15 15 675 0 0 0 0 0
Northern Mixedwood CL04R16 92 264 24 663 26.7 0 24 663 26.7
Lower Boreal Highlands North CL04R17 11 745 1 926 16.4 0 1 926 16.4
Boreal Subarctic CL04R18 14 006 5 844 41.7 0 5 844 41.7
Slave Lowlands CL04R19 11 667 1 583 13.6 0 1 583 13.6
High Boreal CL05R03 111 755 15 043 13.5 0 15 043 13.5
Slave Plain CL05R04 7 579 11 0.1 0 11 0.1
Selwyn Lake Upland CL05R05 196 275 22 463 11.4 0 22 463 11.4
Kazan River Upland CL05R06 183 946 24 006 13.1 0 24 006 13.1
La Grande Hills CL05R07 171 951 48 667 28.3 0 48 667 28.3
Nord-du-Québec Central   Plateau CL05R08 177 618 28 818 16.2 0 28 818 16.2
McPhayden Plateau CL05R09 9 461 7 0.1 0 7 0.1
Ungava Bay Basin CL05R10 109 785 13 361 12.2 0 13 361 12.2
Kingurutik-Fraser CL05R11 52 915 11 0 0 11 0
Coastal Barrens CL05R12 13 520 856 6.3 0 856 6.3
Michikamau-Smallwood CL05R13 86 549 1 531 1.8 0 1 531 1.8
Nipishish-Goose CL05R14 23 259 0 0 0 0 0
Mecatina River CL05R15 41 289 2 0 0 2 0
Eagle Plateau – Mealy Mountains CL05R16 17 599 7 496 42.6 0 7 496 42.6
Athabasca Plain CL06R01 87 467 6 466 7.4 0 6 466 7.4
Hayes River Upland CL06R03 131 805 4 697 3.6 0 4 697 3.6
Big Trout Lake CL06R04 146 897 5 611 3.8 0 5 611 3.8
Lake St. Joseph CL06R05 91 057 25 600 28.1 0 25 600 28.1
Lake Wabigoon CL06R06 75 331 15 681 20.8 0 15 681 20.8
Lake of the Woods CL06R07 16 390 761 4.6 0 761 4.6
Lake Nipigon CL06R08 89 192 14 773 16.6 0 14 773 16.6
Pigeon River CL06R09 20 468 5 175 25.3 0 5 175 25.3
Abitibi Lowlands CL06R10 211 625 22 553 10.7 0 22 553 10.7
Lake Temagami CL06R11 41 758 6 264 15.0 0 6 264 15.0
Georgian Bay CL06R12 74 501 7 927 10.6 0 7 928 10.6
Mistassini Highlands CL06R13 97 165 22 529 23.2 0 22 529 23.2
Central Laurentides Highlands CL06R15 205 129 27 087 13.2 0 27 087 13.2
Lake Melville CL06R16 17 668 461 2.6 0 461 2.6
Paradise River CL06R17 17 160 1 901 11.1 0 1 901 11.1
Middle and Lower Côte-Nord Plateau CL06R18 104 282 17 070 16.4 0 17 070 16.4
Anticosti Island CL06R19 7 937 2 253 28.4 0 2 253 28.4
Strait of Belle Isle Barrens CL06R20 1 783 42 2.3 0 42 2.3
Northern Peninsula Forest CL06R21 8 508 503 5.9 0 503 5.9
Long Range Barrens CL06R22 16 589 1 599 9.6 0 1 599 9.6
Western Newfoundland Forest CL06R23 9 874 561 5.7 0 561 5.7
Central Newfoundland Forest CL06R24 28 731 537 1.9 0 537 1.9
North Shore Forest CL06R25 5 483 133 2.4 0 133 2.4
Maritime Barrens CL06R26 37 734 4 038 10.7 0 4 038 10.7
Avalon Forest CL06R27 555 18 3.3 0 18 3.3
Eastern Hyper-Oceanic Barrens CL06R28 1 545 44 2.9 0 44 2.9
Valley Lowlands CL07R01 20 310 1 643 8.1 0 1 643 8.1
Central Uplands East CL07R04 1 408 251 17.8 0 251 17.8
Îles-de-la-Madeleine CL07R07 232 27 11.7 0 27 11.7
Triassic Lowlands CL07R09 1 367 2 0.1 0 2 0.1
Western Meguma Interior CL07R10 17 129 2 915 17.0 0 2 915 17.0
Eastern Meguma Interior CL07R11 6 136 797 13.0 0 797 13.0
Cape Breton Highlands CL07R12 2 460 1 289 52.4 0 1 289 52.4
Cape Breton Taiga CL07R13 302 227 75.2 0 227 75.2
Lake Erie - Lake Ontario CL08R03 21 865 248 1.1 0 248 1.1
Upper Boreal Highlands CL09R04 11 894 2 929 24.6 0 2 929 24.6
Peace River Parkland CL09R06 3 122 20 0.6 0 20 0.6
Peace-Athabasca Delta CL09R09 5 539 5 227 94.4 0 5 227 94.4
Foothills Parkland CL10R02 3 928 243 6.2 0 243 6.2
Foothills Fescue CL10R03 13 642 44 0.3 0 44 0.3
Mixedgrass CL10R05 17 599 180 1.0 0 180 1.0
Cypress Hills Montane CL10R08 309 200 64.8 0 200 64.8
Southwest Manitoba Uplands CL10R09 2 188 178 8.1 0 178 8.1
Lake Manitoba Plain CL10R10 32 768 388 1.2 0 388 1.2
Mount Logan CL12R01 12 925 12 923 100.0 0 12 923 100.0
Chugach Mountains and Icefields CL12R02 2 338 2 338 100.0 0 2 338 100.0
St. Elias Mountains CL13R01 18 708 15 693 83.9 0 15 693 83.9
Wellesley Lake CL13R02 3 983 0 0 0 0 0
Ruby-Nisling Ranges CL13R03 18 885 10 0.1 0 10 0.1
Klondike Plateau CL13R04 36 520 0 0 0 0 0
Yukon Plateau-Central CL13R05 24 030 110 0.5 0 110 0.5
McQuesten Highlands CL13R06 23 592 771 3.3 0 771 3.3
Yukon Plateau-North CL13R07 49 503 1 770 3.6 0 1 770 3.6
Selwyn Mountains CL13R08 35 697 1 0 0 1 0
High Boreal Highlands CL13R10 23 759 18 135 76.3 0 18 135 76.3
High Boreal Lowlands CL13R11 9 561 1 042 10.9 0 1 042 10.9
Yukon-Stikine Highlands CL13R12 23 468 6 654 28.4 0 6 654 28.4
Yukon Southern Lakes CL13R13 50 133 5 846 11.7 0 5 846 11.7
Pelly Mountains CL13R14 46 960 140 0.3 0 140 0.3
Liard Basin CL13R16 28 926 620 2.1 0 620 2.1
Hyland Highland CL13R17 19 609 378 1.9 0 378 1.9
Davidson Mountains CL14R01 5 191 3 301 63.6 0 3 301 63.6
Old Crow Basin CL14R02 14 923 5 795 38.8 0 5 795 38.8
North Ogilvie Mountains CL14R03 40 613 7 112 17.5 0 7 112 17.5
Eagle Plains CL14R04 21 985 1 619 7.4 0 1 619 7.4
Mackenzie Mountains CL14R05 31 568 19 309 61.2 0 19 309 61.2
Coastal Hudson Bay Lowland CL15R01 57 236 26 573 46.4 0 26 573 46.4
Hudson Bay Lowland CL15R02 138 825 14 052 10.1 0 14 052 10.1
James Bay Lowlands CL15R03 152 345 10 199 6.7 0 10 199 6.7
Appalachian Mountains CL17R01 69 073 3 267 4.7 0 3 267 4.7
Central Uplands West CL17R02 12 393 584 4.7 0 584 4.7
Northern New Brunswick Uplands CL17R03 8 724 1 167 13.4 0 1 167 13.4
New Brunswick Highlands CL17R04 2 822 589 20.9 0 589 20.9
Coronation Hills CL03R06 77 972 2 085 2.7 3 652 5 737 7.4
Takijua Lake Upland CL03R08 126 102 1 543 1.2 915 2 457 1.9
Garry Lake Lowland CL03R11 98 928 29 029 29.3 2 206 31 235 31.6
Mackenzie Delta CL04R01 9 373 0 0 130 130 1.4
Low Subarctic Northern Plains CL04R02 55 550 8 751 15.8 2 216 10 967 19.7
Northern Uplands CL04R03 54 532 808 1.5 6 920 7 728 14.2
High Subarctic Northern Plains CL04R04 82 597 666 0.8 2 020 2 685 3.3
Central Highlands CL04R05 38 262 3 307 8.6 2 699 6 006 15.7
Central Uplands CL04R06 17 973 109 0.6 16 125 0.7
Central Plains CL04R07 20 851 1 128 5.4 3 149 4 277 20.5
Lac Grandin Plain CL04R08 26 097 1 317 5.0 523 1 840 7.1
Northern Alberta Upland CL04R14 31 212 481 1.5 527 1 008 3.2
High Subarctic West CL05R01 60 726 3 155 5.2 950 4 105 6.8
Low Subarctic North CL05R02 58 734 4 831 8.2 82 4 913 8.4
Churchill River Upland CL06R02 196 603 11 598 5.9 36 11 634 5.9
Southern Laurentides Highlands CL06R14 158 761 13 329 8.4 2 13 331 8.4
Eastern Lowlands CL07R02 39 021 2 953 7.6 36 2 989 7.7
Grand Lake Lowlands CL07R03 3 780 263 7.0 61 324 8.6
Fundy Coast CL07R05 3 633 388 10.7 1 389 10.7
Prince Edward Island CL07R06 5 932 233 3.9 38 271 4.6
Avalon Uplands CL07R08 4 793 457 9.5 13 470 9.8
Atlantic Coast CL07R14 4 088 542 13.3 59 601 14.7
St. Lawrence Lowlands CL08R01 44 124 1 552 3.5 3 1 555 3.5
Lake Simcoe CL08R02 49 405 1 085 2.2 42 1 128 2.3
Muskwa Plateau CL09R01 26 169 857 3.3 1 858 3.3
Mid Boreal Uplands CL09R02 307 570 40 130 13.0 2 142 42 272 13.7
Lower Boreal Highlands South CL09R03 69 089 3 746 5.4 559 4 305 6.2
Dry Mixedwood CL09R05 58 592 887 1.5 180 1 067 1.8
Lower Foothills CL09R07 51 105 418 0.8 191 609 1.2
Upper Foothills CL09R08 22 460 587 2.6 30 618 2.8
Boreal Transition CL09R10 91 799 3 385 3.7 1 631 5 016 5.5
Mid Boreal Lowland CL09R11 92 890 6 408 6.9 284 6 692 7.2
Interlake Plain CL09R12 39 782 1 571 3.9 5 1 575 4.0
Aspen Parkland CL10R01 170 223 4 431 2.6 2 083 6 514 3.8
Moist Mixed Grassland CL10R04 82 833 3 814 4.6 1 102 4 916 5.9
Dry Mixedgrass CL10R06 133 416 8 638 6.5 5 647 14 285 10.7
Cypress Mixedgrass CL10R07 7 517 252 3.4 837 1 089 14.5
Skeena Mountains CL11R01 24 427 882 3.6 525 1 407 5.8
Omineca Mountains CL11R02 34 083 2 957 8.7 1 111 4 068 11.9
Fraser Basin CL11R03 43 017 1 532 3.6 403 1 935 4.5
Central Canadian Rocky Mountains CL11R04 37 273 4 032 10.8 2 487 6 519 17.5
Eastern Hazelton Mountains CL11R05 13 535 5 993 44.3 1 098 7 091 52.4
Chilcotin Ranges CL11R06 15 784 6 476 41.0 363 6 839 43.3
Fraser Plateau CL11R07 82 038 5 182 6.3 6 010 11 192 13.6
Columbia Highlands CL11R08 29 572 3 218 10.9 2 371 5 589 18.9
Selkirk-Bitterroot Foothills CL11R09 7 646 882 11.5 55 937 12.3
Northern Columbia Mountains CL11R10 53 493 12 046 22.5 1 142 13 187 24.7
Southern Rocky Mountain Trench CL11R11 8 498 616 7.3 152 768 9.0
Purcell Transitional Ranges CL11R12 8 108 1 197 14.8 4 1 201 14.8
Western Continental Ranges CL11R13 23 382 6 501 27.8 113 6 614 28.3
Northern Continental Divide CL11R14 5 916 437 7.4 880 1 317 22.3
Eastern Continental Ranges CL11R15 50 020 30 586 61.1 356 30 942 61.9
Boundary Ranges CL12R03 21 426 1 318 6.2 10 1 328 6.2
Nass Ranges CL12R04 27 323 1 293 4.7 1 447 2 739 10
Gwaii Haanas CL12R05 10 049 4 822 48.0 8 4 830 48.1
Coastal Gap CL12R06 45 187 16 915 37.4 631 17 546 38.8
Western Vancouver Island CL12R07 20 165 2 815 14.0 794 3 609 17.9
Eastern Vancouver Island CL12R08 12 333 1 617 13.1 210 1 826 14.8
Georgia-Puget Basin CL12R09 1 668 223 13.3 3 226 13.5
Lower Mainland CL12R10 4 290 219 5.1 49 269 6.3
Pacific Ranges CL12R11 59 317 8 117 13.7 4 287 12 403 20.9
Mid-Boreal Highlands CL13R09 24 120 12 638 52.4 2 12 640 52.4
Boreal Mountains and Plateaus CL13R15 79 123 20 759 26.2 4 322 25 081 31.7
Northern Canadian Rocky Mountains CL13R18 41 282 12 062 29.2 5 352 17 414 42.2
Low Subarctic Lowlands CL14R06 43 421 15 933 36.7 1 833 17 766 40.9
High Subarctic Highlands CL14R07 24 526 154 0.6 1 652 1 806 7.4
Low Subarctic Highlands CL14R08 49 040 3 145 6.4 7 020 10 165 20.7
British-Richardson Mountains CL16R01 28 887 8 140 28.2 3 197 11 336 39.2
Interior Transition Ranges CL18R01 14 026 2 239 16.0 1 217 3 456 24.6
Northern Cascade Ranges CL18R02 9 479 1 657 17.5 194 1 851 19.5
Thompson-Okanagan Plateau CL18R03 31 596 1 303 4.1 656 1 959 6.2
Okanagan Highland CL18R04 1 363 200 14.7 15 216 15.8
Great Lakes CW31 89 236 11 932 13.4 0 11 932 13.4

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 12.4 kB)

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Area conserved includes area protected as well as area conserved with other measures. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2022) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

The area conserved varies greatly among ecoregions. Ecoregions that have the highest proportion of area conserved are associated with large protected areas. For example, the Peace-Athabasca Delta ecoregion has 94.4% of its area conserved (Wood Buffalo National Park) and the Mount Logan ecoregion has 100% of its area conserved (Kluane National Park and Reserve). On the other hand, ecoregions in urban or agricultural landscapes have the lowest proportion of area conserved. The Lake Simcoe and Lake Erie – Lake Ontario ecoregions each have less than 3% of their area conserved.

Regional

Terrestrial conserved areas, within each province and territory

Key results

  • The proportion of terrestrial area (land and freshwater) conserved varies by province and territory. It ranges from 4.8% in Prince Edward Island to 19.6% in British Columbia
  • Additions in 2022 include:
    • 270 new protected or conserved areas and over 200 expansions of existing areas in New Brunswick, with over 3 000 km2 reported
    • 87 new protected areas and some expansions of existing areas in Ontario, with over 1 500 km2 reported

Proportion of terrestrial area conserved, by province and territory, Canada, 2022

Proportion of terrestrial area conserved, by province and territory, Canada, 2021 (see data table below for the long description)
Data table for the long description
Proportion of terrestrial area conserved, by province and territory, Canada, 2022
Province or territory Provincial or territorial area
(square kilometres)
Area protected
(square kilometres)
Percentage of province or territory protected Other effective area-based conservation measures
(square kilometres)
Area conserved
(square kilometres)
Percentage of province or territory conserved
British Columbia 944 735 146 590 15.5 38 476 185 066 19.6
Yukon 482 443 93 320 19.3 0 93 320 19.3
Quebec 1 512 418 254 002 16.8 5 254 007 16.8
Northwest Territories 1 346 106 173 140 12.9 39 181 212 321 15.8
Alberta 661 848 102 107 15.4 0 102 107 15.4
Nova Scotia 55 284 7 211 13.0 84 7 294 13.2
Manitoba 647 797 71 326 11.0 231 71 557 11.0
Ontario 1 076 395 116 853 10.9 43 116 896 10.9
Nunavut 2 093 190 213 052 10.2 0 213 052 10.2
New Brunswick 72 908 7 109 9.8 85 7 194 9.9
Saskatchewan 651 036 51 031 7.8 12 812 63 843 9.8
Newfoundland and Labrador 405 212 28 143 6.9 0 28 143 6.9
Prince Edward Island 5 660 233 4.1 38 271 4.8
Correction for overlaps among Provinces and Territories n/a -41 n/a -2 -43 n/a
Grand total n/a 1 264 077 12.7 90 953 1 355 029 13.6

Note: Area conserved includes area protected as well as other effective area-based conservation measures.

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 1.65 kB)

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Terrestrial area includes land and freshwater. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2022) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

Each province and territory has set aside areas for conservation. Compared to the previous year, the following provinces increased terrestrial areas conserved:

  • New Brunswick, from 4.9% to 9.9%
  • Nova Scotia, from 12.8% to 13.2%
  • Prince Edward Island, from 4.5% to 4.8%
  • Yukon, from 19.1% to 19.3%
  • Quebec, from 16.7% to 16.8%
  • Nunavut, from 10.1% to 10.2%

An increasing number of Indigenous protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are being established. Examples include:

These areas are managed cooperatively between jurisdictions and Indigenous people, or by Indigenous people.

About the indicators

About the indicators

What the indicators measure

These indicators report the amount and proportion of Canada’s terrestrial (land and freshwater) and marine area that is recognized as conserved. Conserved areas are lands and waters which are managed in ways that achieve positive long-term outcomes for the conservation of biodiversity. They include protected areas as well as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Canada recognizes the international definitions of protected areas and OECMs (One with Nature 2018 [PDF; 2.12 MB] and Marine Protected Areas Protection Standard). Land and/or water access and use within protected areas are controlled primarily for the purpose of conserving nature (for example, a park, a conservation area or a wildlife reserve). OECMs are also managed over the long term in ways that result in the effective conservation of biodiversity. However, OECMs might have been established for other purposes. In some cases, certain commercial activities and harvesting of biological resources may be allowed so long as there is no major negative impact to the biodiversity outcomes of the area.

Why these indicators are important

Well-managed conserved areas are one way to protect wild species and their habitats for present and future generations. Habitat conservation is a measure of human response to the loss of biodiversity and natural habitat. As the area conserved in Canada increases, more lands and waters are withdrawn from direct human development stresses, thereby contributing to biodiversity conservation and improving the health of ecosystems. In turn, healthy ecosystems provide benefits such as clean water, mitigation of climate change, pollination and improved human health. 

Related initiatives

These indicators support the measurement of progress towards the following 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy supporting the targets:

  • Conserve 25% of marine and coastal areas by 2025, and 30% by 2030, in support of the commitment to work to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, and achieve a full recovery for nature by 2050. The most recent data available shows that, as of the end of 2022, 14.7% of Canada’s coastal and marine areas was recognized as conserved through a network of marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, including 9.1% in protected areas.
  • Conserve 25% of Canada’s land and inland waters by 2025, working toward 30% by 2030, from 12.5% recognized as conserved as of the end of 2020, in support of the commitment to work to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, and achieve a full recovery for nature by 2050. The most recent data available shows that, as of the end of 2022, 13.6% of Canada’s terrestrial areas and inland water was recognized as conserved through a network of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, including 12.7% in protected areas.

In addition, the indicators contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are linked to Goal 14, Life Below Water and Target 14.5, "By 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information." They are also linked to Goal 15, Life on Land and Target 15.1, "By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements."

The indicators also contribute to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. They are linked to Target 3: "Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water,and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities including over their traditional territories."

Related indicators

The Ecological integrity of national parks indicator reports on the condition of ecosystems within national parks, an important element of Canada's conserved area network.

The Global trends in conserved areas indicator compares Canada's conserved area to a peer group of countries.

Data sources and methods

Data sources and methods

Data sources

Data are taken from the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (the database). Data from federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions, the authoritative data sources, are compiled by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

More information

Protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures

Protected areas together with other effective area-based conservation measures are referred to as conserved areas. Protected areas are areas recognized as meeting the international definition for a protected area. The International Union for Conservation of Nature defines a protected area as "a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values."

Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) must meet the Convention on Biodiversity definition to be recognized. The Convention on Biodiversity defines an "other effective area-based conservation measure" as "a geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity."Footnote 3  Canada implements the Convention on Biodiversity’s OECM definition in a manner that reflects national circumstances. Guidance for assessing sites as Protected Areas or OECMs in Canada is provided through the Pathway to Canada Target 1 Decision Support Tool.Footnote 4  Guidance for assessing federal marine OECMs is provided through the Marine OECM guidance.

In Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada each have specific but complementary mandates for establishing marine protected areas:

  • Oceans Act marine protected areas (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) are established to maintain ecological integrity and to conserve marine species and their habitats. This includes species that are fished, endangered or threatened marine species, as well as unique habitats and areas of high biological productivity or biodiversity
  • National marine conservation areas (Parks Canada) are established to conserve representative examples of Canada’s natural and cultural marine heritage and to provide opportunities for public education and enjoyment
  • National wildlife areas and migratory bird sanctuaries (Environment and Climate Change Canada) are established to conserve habitat for a variety of wildlife including migratory birds and endangered species

The areas established by these departments, along with provincially established areas, contribute to the conservation network. The primary goal of this network is to provide long-term conservation of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features.

The different jurisdictions conserve areas for different purposes,Footnote 5  and control the amount of human activity (such as transportation, fishing or recreation) that is allowed. Marine conservation efforts include a wide range of management and stewardship activities. Examples include support for the recovery of species at risk, prevention and mitigation of the impact of aquatic invasive species, and strengthening of Canada’s response to ship-source marine pollution.

Data description

The database contains data consolidated from all jurisdictions with responsibilities for conserved areas in Canada. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.

At least once each year, federal, provincial and territorial departments and agencies submit geospatial and ancillary data for conserved areas under their administrative control. Data on areas controlled by Indigenous or non-governmental organizations, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada, are included where a jurisdiction has recognized and reported those areas.

The data include the name of the area, its geospatial location, boundaries, official area, biome (terrestrial/marine), International Union for Conservation of Nature management category, managing jurisdiction, and protection date,Footnote 6  among other information.

In cases where the same attribute information does not apply to the entire conserved area, the area is divided into zones for reporting. For example, a single protected area that crosses a provincial border is divided into zones corresponding to the different provinces. Similarly, a protected area that is later expanded is treated as several zones, each with its own protection date. Terrestrial and marine sections are treated as separate zones; freshwater is included in the terrestrial zone. Ancillary data are maintained independently for each zone. Conserved areas that are undivided are treated as a single zone.

Work is ongoing to capture and incorporate data on additional privately held protected areas and on areas being conserved through means other than formal protection.

Jurisdictional area

  • For Canada and for all provinces and territories except Quebec: Natural Resources Canada (2005) Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Land and freshwater area, by province and territory
  • For Quebec: Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques
  • Canada's marine territory: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2013) departmental analysis based on National Resources Canada (2009) Atlas of Canada 1:1,000,000 National Frameworks Data, Administrative Boundaries

National boundaries

Natural Resources Canada (2019) CanVec Series 1:1,000,000 Geopolitical Region, Administrative Boundaries.

Ecozones and ecoregions

Environment and Climate Change Canada (2019) Canadian Terrestrial Ecological Framework. Marine ecozones are based on Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2016) Federal Marine Bioregions (Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Science Advisory Report 2009/056).

Methods

The area conserved is estimated by means of a geographical analysis based on reported boundaries, accounting for overlaps. Separate estimates are made for protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).

More information

Calculating Canada's conserved area

The Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (the database) contains information on the protection (or conservation) date for each zone. For zones that have been delisted, the records are transferred to the Delisted database.

To estimate the terrestrial protected area trend over time:

  1. All polygons representing terrestrial protected areas that were protected in 1990 or earlier were selected from the database
  2. The selected polygons were dissolved into a single polygon (removing overlaps), and the resulting area calculated using Albers Equal Area Conic projection
  3. The process was repeated for each subsequent year (delisted areas were removed from the analysis starting in the year they were delisted)
  4. Estimates were divided by the total terrestrial area of Canada to determine the proportion protected

To estimate the marine protected area, a similar process was followed, selecting protected marine polygons at each step. The process was repeated for OECMs, for both terrestrial and marine. Total area conserved was calculated by summing area protected and OECM area.

Within the database, 3% of sites have an unknown conservation date. If a polygon with an unknown conservation date was described as "interim," it was assigned a conservation date based on the year it was first reported to the database (1% of total sites); otherwise it was treated as having been conserved prior to 1990.

Terrestrial conserved areas, within each province and territory

The database contains information on the province or territory in which a conserved area is located. The polygons for each terrestrial protected area within a province or territory were combined into a single polygon and the area calculated. The analysis was repeated for terrestrial OECMs. In places where protected areas and OECMs overlapped, only the protected area was included in the total. Only overlaps within a province or territory are removed. Overlaps between provinces and territories can occur, due to unavoidable uncertainties in spatial data. They are not accounted for in the table, Proportion of terrestrial area conserved, by province and territory.

Terrestrial and marine conserved areas, by reporting jurisdiction

The database also contains information on the jurisdiction responsible for each terrestrial (Table 1) and marine (Table 2) conserved area. The total area for each jurisdiction is calculated by combining protected areas polygons into a single polygon. Additional analysis is then conducted to estimate the area for OECMs. 

Table 1. Terrestrial area conserved, by reporting jurisdiction, Canada, 2022

Jurisdiction Area protected
(square kilometres)
Other effective area-based conservation measures
(square kilometres)
Area conserved
(square kilometres)
Provincial and territorial subtotal 802 620 91 115 893 735
Quebec 252 675 0 252 675
British Columbia 140 357 38 474 178 832
Ontario 103 426 43 103 469
Northwest Territories 43 110 39 181 82 291
Saskatchewan 44 727 13 125 57 852
Manitoba 57 585 231 57 816
Yukon 57 125 0 57 125
Alberta 46 593 0 46 593
Nunavut 39 044 0 39 044
New Brunswick 6 636 0 6 636
Nova Scotia 5 800 24 5 824
Newfoundland and Labrador 5 335 0 5 335
Prince Edward Island 206 38 244
Parks Canada 353 083 60 353 143
Environment and Climate Change Canada 119 961 2 119 963
National Capital Commission 463 5 467
Capital Regional District of British Columbia 133 0 133
Natural Resources Canada 0 86 86
National Research Council 0 1 1
Canadian Border Services Agency 0 0[A] 0
Correction for overlaps among jurisdictions -12 184 -316 -12 500
Grand total 1 264 076 90 953 1 355 029

Note:  [A] 0.08 rounds down to 0. Terrestrial area includes land and freshwater. Area conserved includes area protected area as well as other effective area-based conservation measures. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2022) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 1.41 kB)

Table 2. Marine area conserved, by reporting jurisdiction, Canada, 2022

Jurisdiction Area protected
(square kilometres)
Other effective area-based conservation measures
(square kilometres)
Area conserved
(square kilometres)
Provincial 23 721 0 23 721
Quebec 18 833 0 18 833
British Columbia 4 635 0 4 635
Atlantic provinces 173 0 173
Manitoba 80 0 80
Fisheries and Oceans Canada 351 517 326 728 678 245
Parks Canada 122 089 0 122 089
Environment and Climate Change Canada 31 072 0 31 072
Correction for overlaps among jurisdictions -4 088 -8 211 -12 299
Grand total 524 311 318 517 842 828

Note: Area conserved includes area protected as well as other effective area-based conservation measures. Data are current as of December 31, 2022.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2022) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 1.04 kB)

Conserved areas, by ecological area

The database does not contain information on ecological areas. To generate an estimate of conserved area within each ecozone and ecoregion, a geospatial analysis was conducted. However, national ecozone and ecoregion boundaries are more generalized than local conserved areas boundaries, and this has the potential to affect estimates in coastal areas. To avoid this problem, marine conserved area polygons that mapped outside a marine ecozone were assigned to the nearest marine ecozone. Similarly, terrestrial conserved areas that mapped outside a terrestrial ecozone were assigned to the nearest terrestrial ecozone. The steps followed were:

  1. A working layer containing generalized ecozone boundaries was developed
    i.     Marine ecozone boundaries were copied from the national ecozone coverage, and marine ecozone polygons were extended outward and inland to include adjacent terrestrial regions
  2. The marine protected area polygons were selected from the database
  3. The working layer and the marine protected area polygons were combined into a single layer
    i.     Marine protected areas that crossed ecozone boundaries were divided at the boundary
  4. Protected area polygons were selected from the combined layer, and the overlap-corrected area was calculated for each generalized ecozone, resulting in marine areas being assigned to the correct ecozone
  5. The process was repeated for marine OECMs
  6. The process was repeated for terrestrial protected areas and terrestrial OECMs

To be consistent with the projection used in the database, the ecozone layer was re-projected to Albers Equal Area Conic. The total area of each ecozone was then calculated from its geospatial boundaries. The Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves ecozone area was corrected for the territorial area of St Pierre and Miquelon. The total area conserved per ecozone was divided by the total area of the ecozone in order to generate a percentage.

For the terrestrial ecoregion analysis, a geospatial analysis calculated the overlap-adjusted protected area and OECM area within each ecoregion. Terrestrial conserved areas falling outside the ecoregion boundaries were assigned to the nearest ecoregion.

 

Recent changes

In 2021, the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database modified the manner in which  the date assigned to protected areas and OECMs are accounted and recognized in the database. Protected Areas and OECMs are now accounted in the year they were recognized and not in the year they were established, as was previously the case.

Caveats and limitations

In 2018, the Conservation Areas Reporting and Tracking System was converted to the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database and brought formally within Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Data are regularly reviewed and updated. The completeness of the database is continuously being improved as existing conserved areas are reviewed and added to the database if appropriate. Information on the protection date for sites with previously unreported dates may influence trend calculations.

Trends are estimated based on the date a site qualified as a protected area or OECM. The totals for a previous year may change as data are updated.

Comparisons with previous reports should be made with caution, as data quality and completeness continue to improve. Privately protected land and OECMs contribute to achievement of Canada's targets, but many are not yet captured within the database.

More information

The area protected or conserved calculated using polygon boundaries may differ from the "official area" reported in the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

Responsibility for source data accuracy and completeness lies with the jurisdictions. Jurisdictional work is guided by the federal, provincial and territorial report One with Nature (PDF; 2.12 MB). Guidance material and decision support tools were adapted from, and in collaboration with, the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas. Nonetheless, some differences in the approach jurisdictions take in recognizing protected areas and OECMs can be expected.

Areas that are no longer recognized as protected or conserved ("decommissioned" or "delisted") are not captured comprehensively and may be missing from the database. Decommissioned or delisted areas are counted from their establishment date until their delisting date.

Complex boundaries, such as coastlines and ecological areas, must be generalized for mapping purposes. In nature, ecozones or ecoregions do not have sharp boundaries. Due to the uncertainty of such boundaries, results should be seen as estimates rather than precise measurements. The mismatch in scale between conserved areas, mapped with fine detail, and national-scale geographic frameworks, mapped at a broad scale, may lead to minor differences across the various summaries because of the measurement uncertainty inherent in this type of analysis. Differences in the delineation of coastlines may result in a small amount of overlap between marine and terrestrial conserved area polygon boundaries; these overlaps have not been addressed.

Ecozones and ecoregions are ecologically based frameworks and should not be considered an expression of sovereignty. The 2019 updates to the ecozone and ecoregion frameworks have been completed for the purpose of reporting on ecological representation for the Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative, and do not represent an official update of the 1995 National Ecological Framework. While the 2019 framework contains the most up-to-date information from jurisdictions, it should be noted that a different methodology was used by each data provider to determine the boundaries of the ecozones and ecoregions and that this national layer may differ from the provincial and territorial layers.

Protection is a designation, and the indicators do not provide information on the effectiveness of protection, the degree to which the ecological functioning of the area is intact, or the degree to which pressures outside a conserved area might affect the biodiversity within it. 

Resources

Resources

References

Canadian Council on Ecological Areas Secretariat (2008) Canadian Guidebook for the Application of International Union for Conservation of Nature Protected Area Categories 2008. CCEA Occasional Paper No. 18. Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, Ottawa, ON. 66 pp.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2009) Development of a Framework and Principles for the Biogeographic Classification of Canadian Marine Areas. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Science Advisory Report 2009/056. Retrieved on March 28, 2023.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2017) Operational Guidance for Identifying "Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures" in Canada's Marine Environment. Retrieved on March 28, 2023.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2022) Guidance for recognizing marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures 2022. Retrieved on March 28, 2023.

Pathway to Canada Target 1 Initiative (2018) One with Nature. A Renewed Approach to Land and Freshwater Conservation in Canada (PDF; 2.12 MB). Retrieved on March 28, 2023.

Stolton S, Shadie P and Dudley N (2013) Guidelines for applying protected area management categories including IUCN WCPA best practice guidance on recognising protected areas and assigning management categories and governance types (combined volume). Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 21, Gland, Switzerland, section 2. Retrieved on March 28, 2023.

Related information

2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada

Canadian Council on Ecological Areas

Convention on Biological Diversity

Interactive map of Quebec's protected areas (French only)

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Pathway to Canada Target 1

ProtectedPlanet.net

 

Infographic
Infographic on Canada's conserved areas (see below for the long description)
Long description

 

The infographic presents information on Canada's conserved areas indicators. Conserved areas protect wild species and their habitats for future generations. A map of Canada shows the location of marine and terrestrial conserved areas. It also shows the location of the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area in Canada's arctic. At 319 411 km2, the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area is the largest protected area in Canada and it is equal to 5.5% of the total marine territory, or 40% of the marine area conserved.

Total area conserved in Canada has increased by 70% in the last 5 years.

At the end of 2020, Canada had conserved 13.8% (794 596 km2) of its marine territory and 12.5% (1 249 818 km2) of its terrestrial area (land and freshwater).

Canada surpassed its 2020 marine conservation target of 10%. The 2020 terrestrial conservation target of 17% had not yet been achieved. Canada has since increased its commitment to conserving 25% of Canada's land and oceans by 2025.

Examples of conserved areas include:

  • Indigenous protected and conserved areas
  • National wildlife areas
  • National, provincial and territorial parks
  • National marine conservation areas
  • Marine refuges (marine example of an other effective area-based conservation measure)
  • Marine Protected Areas
  • Other effective area-based conservation measures

The infographic presents information on Canada's conserved areas indicators. Conserved areas protect wild species and their habitats for future generations. A map of Canada shows the location of marine and terrestrial conserved areas. It also shows the location of the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area in Canada's arctic. At 319 411 km2, the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area is the largest protected area in Canada and it is equal to 5.5% of the total marine territory, or 37.9% of the marine area conserved.

At the end of 2022, Canada had conserved 14.7% (842 828 km2) of its marine territory and 13.6% (1 355 029 km2) of its terrestrial area (land and freshwater).

Canada has set a target to conserve 25% of its lands and 25% of its oceans by 2025, and 30% of each by 2030. Canada is currently 15.3% below the 2030 target for marine areas conserved and 16.4% below the 2030 target for terrestrial areas conserved as of 2022.

Examples of conserved areas include:

  • Indigenous protected and conserved areas
  • National wildlife areas
  • National, provincial and territorial parks
  • National marine conservation areas
  • Marine refuges (marine example of an other effective area-based conservation measure)
  • Marine Protected Areas
  • Other effective area-based conservation measures

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