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

Data table for the long description
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

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.
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

Data table for the long description
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 |
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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

Data table for the long description
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 |
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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

Data table for the long description
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.
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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:
- Central Purcell Mountains Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in British Columbia
- Tłı̨chǫ Lands Indigenous Conserved Area and Edéhzhíe Indigenous Protected Area in the Northwest Territories
- Thaidene Nëné Wildlife Conservation Area, Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve and Thaidene Nëné Territorial Protected Area in the Northwest Territories
- Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Provincial Park in Alberta
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:
- All polygons representing terrestrial protected areas that were protected in 1990 or earlier were selected from the database
- The selected polygons were dissolved into a single polygon (removing overlaps), and the resulting area calculated using Albers Equal Area Conic projection
- The process was repeated for each subsequent year (delisted areas were removed from the analysis starting in the year they were delisted)
- 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.
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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.
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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:
- 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 - The marine protected area polygons were selected from the database
- 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 - 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
- The process was repeated for marine OECMs
- 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
Infographic

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 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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