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Extent of Canada's wetlands

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Wetlands are among the most important ecosystems on the planet. They provide vital habitats for wildlife, filter pollutants, offer flood protection and drought mitigation, absorb and store carbon, and are important cultural sites for many Canadian communities. Wetlands are also one of the Earth’s most endangered ecosystem types. This indicator reports the current known extent or area of land in Canada covered by wetlands and establishes a baseline to measure future changes over time in Canada’s wetland extent.

National

National extent of Canada's wetlands

Key results

Based on 2024 data, Canada had about 1.25 million km2 of wetlands, covering about 13% of Canada’s terrestrial and freshwater area

Wetlands in Canada, 2024

Long description

The map shows the proportion of wetlands across Canada. The Hudson Plains and the southwestern Boreal Forest have the highest proportion of wetlands, while Arctic and Cordilleran regions have the lowest.

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Mapped values are the percentage of wetland found in each 10 km by 10 km grid cell. Boundary discrepancies may occur due to variations in the quality, resolution and availability of data from one province or territory to the next. Some areas may appear to lack wetlands as a result of gaps in data coverage rather than the absence of wetland features (see the Caveats and limitations section for more information).
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) Canadian National Wetlands Inventory.

Wetlands are ecosystems where the soil is covered or permeated by water, either permanently or temporarily. They are characterized by plants adapted to very wet soil conditions. Any land area that can keep water long enough for wetland plants and soils to develop can be classified as a wetland. Examples of wetlands included in this indicator are fresh and saltwater marshes, wooded swamps, bogs, seasonally flooded forests, eelgrass beds, and types of grasslands (such as prairie potholes).

Ecological areas

Wetlands in Canada, by ecological areas

Canada's landmass can be divided into 18 terrestrial ecozones and further divided into 215 terrestrial ecoregions. Ecozones are broad geographic areas with distinct climates and biodiversity, while ecoregions provide a finer classification based on regional differences in vegetation, soil, and landforms.

Wetlands in Canada, by ecozone

Key results

Based on 2024 data,

  • The Hudson Plains ecozone had the highest proportion of area covered in wetlands (76%)
  • Ecozones in the Arctic or mountainous areas had a low proportion of wetlands
  • The Arctic Cordillera had the lowest proportion of wetlands (0.1%)

Proportion of wetland by ecozone, Canada, 2024

Data table for the long description
Proportion of wetland by ecozone, Canada, 2024
Ecozone name Ecozone code Wetland area
(square kilometres)		 Proportion of ecozone that is wetland
(Percentage)
Arctic Cordillera CL01 182 0
Northern Arctic CL02 19 603 1
Southern Arctic CL03 36 529 4
Taiga Plains CL04 101 227 21
Taiga Shield CL05 89 460 7
Boreal Shield CL06 390 502 21
Atlantic Maritime CL07 8 373 7
Mixed-wood Plains CL08 12 368 11
Boreal Plains CL09 230 157 32
Prairies CL10 32 887 7
Montane Cordillera CL11 9 400 2
Pacific Maritime CL12 3 810 2
Boreal Cordillera CL13 18 645 4
Taiga Cordillera CL14 30 065 14
Hudson Plains CL15 255 603 76
Tundra Cordillera CL16 3 183 12
Atlantic Highlands CL17 7 191 8
Semi-Arid Plateaus CL18 319 1
Total n/a 1 249 505 n/a

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 1.23 kB)

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Mapped values are the percentage of wetland found in each ecozone. Some areas may appear to lack wetlands as a result of gaps in data coverage rather than the absence of wetland features (see the Caveats and limitations section for more information).
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) Canadian National Wetlands Inventory.

The proportion of land covered by wetlands varies greatly among ecozones. Ecozones that have the highest proportion of wetlands are associated with flat terrain, poor drainage, and cooler climates, such as the Hudson Plains and Boreal Shield. For example, the Hudson Plains have vast peatlands and marshes due to slow water movement and high rainfall relative to evaporation.

On the other hand, regions with rugged or mountainous terrain, better drainage, and warmer or drier climates tend to have fewer wetlands. For instance, the Montane Cordillera and Semi-Arid Plateau ecozones have fewer wetlands due to sloped landscapes or limited water availability.

Conservation efforts in Canada help to protect, restore and sustainably manage wetlands and their associated water systems at both community and national levels. In the Taiga Shield ecozone, the Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve is a vast and ecologically significant protected area, encompassing boreal forests, tundra, and an extensive network of wetlands. As part of the greater Mackenzie River Basin, the wetlands of Thaıdene Nëné are closely connected to larger water systems, highlighting their key role in maintaining the region’s ecological health. Co-managed with Indigenous communities, the area highlights the connection between natural conservation and cultural heritage, where wetlands are not only key ecological assets but also integral to traditional practices and knowledge.

Wetlands in Canada, by ecoregion

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

Key results

Based on 2024 data,

  • James Bay Lowlands had the highest proportion of wetland (almost 80% of the region, covering close to 200 000 km2)
  • Mountainous and icy regions, such as the Chugach Mountains and Icefields, had no detectable wetlands

Proportion of wetland by ecoregion, Canada, 2024

Data table for the long description
Proportion of wetland by ecoregion, Canada, 2024
Ecoregion name Associated ecozone Ecoregion code Wetlands area
(square kilometres)		 Wetlands area
(percentage)
Ellesmere and Devon Island Ice Caps Arctic Cordillera CL01R01 0 0
Baffin Mountains Arctic Cordillera CL01R02 25 0
Baffin Islands Coastal Lowlands Arctic Cordillera CL01R03 30 0
Torngat Mountains Arctic Cordillera CL01R04 53 0
Ellesmere Mountains Northern Arctic CL02R01 17 0
Eureka Hills Northern Arctic CL02R02 16 0
Polar Islands Northern Arctic CL02R03 137 1
Sverdrup Islands Lowland Northern Arctic CL02R04 490 2
Lancaster Plateau Northern Arctic CL02R05 170 0
High Arctic Northern Arctic CL02R06 246 1
Central Melville Upland Northern Arctic CL02R07 9 0
Parry Islands Plateau Northern Arctic CL02R08 176 0
Mid Arctic West Northern Arctic CL02R09 2 350 6
Mid Arctic East Northern Arctic CL02R10 1 593 2
Low Arctic North Northern Arctic CL02R11 175 2
Shaler Mountains Northern Arctic CL02R12 229 1
Amundsen Gulf Lowlands Northern Arctic CL02R13 675 1
Victoria Islands Lowland Northern Arctic CL02R14 1 974 2
Prince of Wales Island Lowland Northern Arctic CL02R15 119 1
Boothia Peninsula Plateau Northern Arctic CL02R16 61 0
Gulf of Boothia Plain Northern Arctic CL02R17 726 3
Borden Peninsula Plateau Northern Arctic CL02R18 36 0
Melville Peninsula Plateau Northern Arctic CL02R19 1 523 1
Baffin Island Uplands Northern Arctic CL02R20 106 0
Wager Bay Plateau Northern Arctic CL02R21 3 424 1
Foxe Basin Plain Northern Arctic CL02R22 4 261 8
Meta Incognita Peninsula Northern Arctic CL02R23 563 1
Pangnirtung Upland Northern Arctic CL02R24 19 0
Hall Peninsula Upland Northern Arctic CL02R25 130 0
Baffin Upland Northern Arctic CL02R26 52 0
Yukon Coastal Plain Southern Arctic CL03R01 257 6
West Lowlands Southern Arctic CL03R02 623 3
Central Lowlands Southern Arctic CL03R03 162 1
East Lowlands Southern Arctic CL03R04 40 1
East Highlands Southern Arctic CL03R05 222 1
Coronation Hills Southern Arctic CL03R06 1 877 3
Bathurst Hills Southern Arctic CL03R07 70 1
Takijua Lake Upland Southern Arctic CL03R08 1 530 1
Queen Maud Gulf Lowland Southern Arctic CL03R09 1 204 2
Chantrey Inlet Lowland Southern Arctic CL03R10 412 2
Garry Lake Lowland Southern Arctic CL03R11 1 693 2
Back River Plain Southern Arctic CL03R12 1 033 3
Dubawnt Lake Plain and Upland Southern Arctic CL03R13 2 885 6
Maguse River Upland Southern Arctic CL03R14 5 858 8
Southampton Island Plain Southern Arctic CL03R15 2 555 7
Ottawa Islands Southern Arctic CL03R16 0 0
Belcher Islands Southern Arctic CL03R17 2 0
Ungava Peninsula Southern Arctic CL03R18 15 528 7
Northern Labrador Highlands Southern Arctic CL03R19 1 164 3
Mackenzie Delta Taiga Plains CL04R01 351 4
Low Subarctic Northern Plains Taiga Plains CL04R02 5 203 10
Northern Uplands Taiga Plains CL04R03 2 441 5
High Subarctic Northern Plains Taiga Plains CL04R04 1 917 4
Central Highlands Taiga Plains CL04R05 1 781 5
Central Uplands Taiga Plains CL04R06 2 833 17
Central Plains Taiga Plains CL04R07 3 341 17
Lac Grandin Plain Taiga Plains CL04R08 2 127 9
West-central Uplands Taiga Plains CL04R09 1 801 18
Mackenzie Plain Taiga Plains CL04R10 2 656 15
Bulmer Plain Taiga Plains CL04R11 5 782 36
Horn Plateau Taiga Plains CL04R12 3 226 36
Great Slave Lake Plains Taiga Plains CL04R13 2 760 19
Northern Alberta Upland Taiga Plains CL04R14 13 594 46
Southern Uplands Taiga Plains CL04R15 5 100 34
Northern Mixedwood Taiga Plains CL04R16 28 899 39
Lower Boreal Highlands North Taiga Plains CL04R17 5 973 54
Boreal Subarctic Taiga Plains CL04R18 8 366 63
Slave Lowlands Taiga Plains CL04R19 2 640 25
High Subarctic West Taiga Shield CL05R01 1 238 2
Low Subarctic North Taiga Shield CL05R02 855 2
High Boreal Taiga Shield CL05R03 6 290 7
Slave Plain Taiga Shield CL05R04 809 11
Selwyn Lake Upland Taiga Shield CL05R05 14 176 8
Kazan River Upland Taiga Shield CL05R06 12 170 7
La Grande Hills Taiga Shield CL05R07 12 563 8
Nord-du-Québec Central Plateau Taiga Shield CL05R08 8 362 5
McPhayden Plateau Taiga Shield CL05R09 236 3
Ungava Bay Basin Taiga Shield CL05R10 11 681 11
Kingurutik-Fraser Taiga Shield CL05R11 1 894 4
Coastal Barrens Taiga Shield CL05R12 584 4
Michikamau-Smallwood Taiga Shield CL05R13 6 554 8
Nipishish-Goose Taiga Shield CL05R14 3 143 14
Mecatina River Taiga Shield CL05R15 5 165 13
Eagle Plateau – Mealy Mountains Taiga Shield CL05R16 3 440 20
Athabasca Plain Boreal Shield CL06R01 10 468 14
Churchill River Upland Boreal Shield CL06R02 17 839 10
Hayes River Upland Boreal Shield CL06R03 25 913 20
Big Trout Lake Boreal Shield CL06R04 67 287 47
Lake St. Joseph Boreal Shield CL06R05 26 649 30
Lake Wabigoon Boreal Shield CL06R06 15 465 21
Lake of the Woods Boreal Shield CL06R07 5 856 36
Lake Nipigon Boreal Shield CL06R08 15 691 19
Pigeon River Boreal Shield CL06R09 2 599 13
Abitibi Lowlands Boreal Shield CL06R10 84 745 40
Lake Temagami Boreal Shield CL06R11 4 121 10
Georgian Bay Boreal Shield CL06R12 7 950 10
Mistassini Highlands Boreal Shield CL06R13 24 033 25
Southern Laurentides Highlands Boreal Shield CL06R14 18 210 11
Central Laurentides Highlands Boreal Shield CL06R15 25 490 13
Lake Melville Boreal Shield CL06R16 1 992 12
Paradise River Boreal Shield CL06R17 2 986 18
Middle and Lower Côte-Nord Plateau Boreal Shield CL06R18 11 052 11
Anticosti Island Boreal Shield CL06R19 2 194 28
Strait of Belle Isle Barrens Boreal Shield CL06R20 230 13
Northern Peninsula Forest Boreal Shield CL06R21 1 100 13
Long Range Barrens Boreal Shield CL06R22 4 919 30
Western Newfoundland Forest Boreal Shield CL06R23 1 358 14
Central Newfoundland Forest Boreal Shield CL06R24 6 566 23
North Shore Forest Boreal Shield CL06R25 537 10
Maritime Barrens Boreal Shield CL06R26 9 867 26
Avalon Forest Boreal Shield CL06R27 97 17
Eastern Hyper-Oceanic Barrens Boreal Shield CL06R28 223 14
Valley Lowlands Atlantic Maritime CL07R01 1 709 8
Eastern Lowlands Atlantic Maritime CL07R02 3 368 8
Grand Lake Lowlands Atlantic Maritime CL07R03 425 11
Central Uplands East Atlantic Maritime CL07R04 49 3
Fundy Coast Atlantic Maritime CL07R05 162 4
Prince Edward Island Atlantic Maritime CL07R06 264 4
Îles-de-la-Madeleine Atlantic Maritime CL07R07 6 3
Avalon Uplands Atlantic Maritime CL07R08 206 4
Triassic Lowlands Atlantic Maritime CL07R09 40 3
Western Meguma Interior Atlantic Maritime CL07R10 1 292 7
Eastern Meguma Interior Atlantic Maritime CL07R11 464 7
Cape Breton Highlands Atlantic Maritime CL07R12 270 11
Cape Breton Taiga Atlantic Maritime CL07R13 82 27
Atlantic Coast Atlantic Maritime CL07R14 246 6
St. Lawrence Lowlands Mixedwood Plains CL08R01 5 567 12
Lake Simcoe Mixedwood Plains CL08R02 5 858 12
Lake Erie - Lake Ontario Mixedwood Plains CL08R03 882 4
Great Lakes Mixedwood Plains CW31 0 0
Muskwa Plateau Boreal Plains CL09R01 3 177 13
Mid Boreal Uplands Boreal Plains CL09R02 116 056 39
Lower Boreal Highlands South Boreal Plains CL09R03 25 842 39
Upper Boreal Highlands Boreal Plains CL09R04 5 659 50
Dry Mixedwood Boreal Plains CL09R05 11 157 20
Peace River Parkland Boreal Plains CL09R06 185 6
Lower Foothills Boreal Plains CL09R07 8 633 17
Upper Foothills Boreal Plains CL09R08 2 514 12
Peace-Athabasca Delta Boreal Plains CL09R09 2 905 58
Boreal Transition Boreal Plains CL09R10 12 075 14
Mid Boreal Lowland Boreal Plains CL09R11 26 096 41
Interlake Plain Boreal Plains CL09R12 11 620 34
Aspen Parkland Prairies CL10R01 16 220 10
Foothills Parkland Prairies CL10R02 73 2
Foothills Fescue Prairies CL10R03 465 3
Moist Mixed Grassland Prairies CL10R04 4 729 6
Mixedgrass Prairies CL10R05 602 3
Dry Mixedgrass Prairies CL10R06 4 311 3
Cypress Mixedgrass Prairies CL10R07 106 1
Cypress Hills Montane Prairies CL10R08 3 1
Southwest Manitoba Uplands Prairies CL10R09 186 9
Lake Manitoba Plain Prairies CL10R10 5 002 17
Skeena Mountains Montane Cordillera CL11R01 378 2
Omineca Mountains Montane Cordillera CL11R02 1 120 3
Fraser Basin Montane Cordillera CL11R03 1 523 4
Central Canadian Rocky Mountains Montane Cordillera CL11R04 505 1
Eastern Hazelton Mountains Montane Cordillera CL11R05 336 3
Chilcotin Ranges Montane Cordillera CL11R06 251 2
Fraser Plateau Montane Cordillera CL11R07 2 816 4
Columbia Highlands Montane Cordillera CL11R08 374 1
Selkirk-Bitterroot Foothills Montane Cordillera CL11R09 16 0
Northern Columbia Mountains Montane Cordillera CL11R10 221 0
Southern Rocky Mountain Trench Montane Cordillera CL11R11 111 1
Purcell Transitional Ranges Montane Cordillera CL11R12 47 1
Western Continental Ranges Montane Cordillera CL11R13 140 1
Northern Continental Divide Montane Cordillera CL11R14 14 0
Eastern Continental Ranges Montane Cordillera CL11R15 1 414 3
Mount Logan Pacific Maritime CL12R01 5 0
Chugach Mountains and Icefields Pacific Maritime CL12R02 0 0
Boundary Ranges Pacific Maritime CL12R03 145 1
Nass Ranges Pacific Maritime CL12R04 315 1
Gwaii Haanas Pacific Maritime CL12R05 645 7
Coastal Gap Pacific Maritime CL12R06 1 866 4
Western Vancouver Island Pacific Maritime CL12R07 58 0
Eastern Vancouver Island Pacific Maritime CL12R08 70 1
Georgia-Puget Basin Pacific Maritime CL12R09 6 0
Lower Mainland Pacific Maritime CL12R10 24 1
Pacific Ranges Pacific Maritime CL12R11 469 1
St. Elias Mountains Boreal Cordillera CL13R01 337 2
Wellesley Lake Boreal Cordillera CL13R02 703 19
Ruby-Nisling Ranges Boreal Cordillera CL13R03 752 4
Klondike Plateau Boreal Cordillera CL13R04 1 988 6
Yukon Plateau-Central Boreal Cordillera CL13R05 479 2
McQuesten Highlands Boreal Cordillera CL13R06 1 654 7
Yukon Plateau-North Boreal Cordillera CL13R07 438 1
Selwyn Mountains Boreal Cordillera CL13R08 386 1
Mid-Boreal Highlands Boreal Cordillera CL13R09 720 3
High Boreal Highlands Boreal Cordillera CL13R10 1 792 8
High Boreal Lowlands Boreal Cordillera CL13R11 379 4
Yukon-Stikine Highlands Boreal Cordillera CL13R12 251 1
Yukon Southern Lakes Boreal Cordillera CL13R13 1 700 4
Pelly Mountains Boreal Cordillera CL13R14 691 2
Boreal Mountains and Plateaus Boreal Cordillera CL13R15 2 188 3
Liard Basin Boreal Cordillera CL13R16 1 323 5
Hyland Highland Boreal Cordillera CL13R17 1 222 7
Northern Canadian Rocky Mountains Boreal Cordillera CL13R18 1 569 4
Davidson Mountains Taiga Cordillera CL14R01 639 13
Old Crow Basin Taiga Cordillera CL14R02 3 018 21
North Ogilvie Mountains Taiga Cordillera CL14R03 11 502 30
Eagle Plains Taiga Cordillera CL14R04 6 605 32
Mackenzie Mountains Taiga Cordillera CL14R05 3 216 11
Low Subarctic Lowlands Taiga Cordillera CL14R06 4 201 10
High Subarctic Highlands Taiga Cordillera CL14R07 844 4
Low Subarctic Highlands Taiga Cordillera CL14R08 1 134 2
Coastal Hudson Bay Lowland Hudson Plains CL15R01 35 183 64
Hudson Bay Lowland Hudson Plains CL15R02 102 875 77
James Bay Lowlands Hudson Plains CL15R03 119 286 80
British-Richardson Mountains Tundra Cordillera CL16R01 3 183 12
Appalachian Mountains Atlantic Highlands CL17R01 5 857 8
Central Uplands West Atlantic Highlands CL17R02 571 5
Northern New Brunswick Uplands Atlantic Highlands CL17R03 551 6
New Brunswick Highlands Atlantic Highlands CL17R04 148 5
Interior Transition Ranges Semi-Arid Plateaus CL18R01 39 0
Northern Cascade Ranges Semi-Arid Plateaus CL18R02 30 0
Thompson-Okanagan Plateau Semi-Arid Plateaus CL18R03 247 1
Okanagan Highland Semi-Arid Plateaus CL18R04 4 0
Total n/a n/a 1 250 976 n/a

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 11.5 kB)

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Mapped values are the percentage of wetland found in each ecozone. Some areas may appear to lack wetlands as a result of gaps in data coverage rather than the absence of wetland features (see the Caveats and limitations section for more information).
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) Canadian National Wetlands Inventory.

A band of ecoregions with relatively high proportions of wetlands (20% to 100% wetland coverage) closely aligns with Canada’s boreal region, extending from the southeastern Hudson Bay and James Bay Lowlands, across northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and into northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The James Bay Lowlands (80% wetland coverage) and Hudson Bay Lowlands (77%) ecoregions have the highest wetland densities in Canada.

In contrast, low wetland coverage (less than 1% to 5%) is found in several regions where environmental conditions limit wetland formation:

  • Steep terrain and rapid drainage prevent wetlands from forming in areas with mountainous landscapes, such as parts of the Rocky Mountains and highland regions
  • Low precipitation, high evaporation, and poor water retention reduce wetland extent in regions characterized by dry grasslands

Additionally, agricultural activity and urban development have significantly reduced wetlands in heavily populated or farmed areas of southern Canada.

About the indicator

About the indicator

What the indicator measures

This indicator is a measure of the extent of Canadian wetlands and provides a baseline from which it will be possible to measure change. A wetland is defined as land that is saturated with water long enough to support aquatic processes as indicated by poorly drained soils, hydrophytic vegetation and various forms of biological activity that are adapted to a wet environment.Footnote 1

Why this indicators are important

Wetlands are one of Earth's most productive ecosystems, providing numerous ecosystem services (such as carbon storage) and supporting a disproportionately high number of species, including species at risk and significant numbers of migratory birds, fish, amphibians, and a wide diversity of plants. Wetlands have been recognized as important ecosystems because they

  • reduce the impact of waves
  • buffer droughts and floods
  • filter sediments and toxic substances
  • absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere
  • provide food and habitat for many species of fish, shellfish, shorebirds, waterfowl and mammals
  • provide food (wild rice, cranberries, fish, wildfowl), energy (peat, wood, charcoal), building material (lumber), and clean water for people
  • are valuable recreational areas for activities such as hunting, fishing and birdwatching

By some estimations, approximately 70% of wetlands in southern Canada were lost by 1990, with losses reaching up to 98% in densely populated areas nationwide.Footnote 2  In addition to urban areas, wetlands are also threatened by industrial expansion, agricultural activities and resource extraction. This indicator serves as a baseline which will be used to track changes over time and thereby help inform proper management of wetlands in Canada.

Related initiatives

The indicator contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is 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 indicator is also used for reporting progress on Target 1 of Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy: "Spatial planning and effective management." This target is related to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (PDF; 374 kB) Target 1: "Ensure that all areas are under participatory integrated biodiversity inclusive spatial planning and/or effective management processes addressing land and sea use change, to bring the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance, including ecosystems of high ecological integrity, close to zero by 2030, while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities."

Related indicators

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

Canada's conserved areas indicators report the amount and proportion of Canada's terrestrial and marine area that is conserved. 

Data sources and methods

Data sources and methods

Data sources

Environment and Climate Change Canada collected high-quality wetland inventory data from various sources, including federal, provincial and territorial governments, academia, Indigenous groups, private sector organizations and non-governmental organizations. These databases were compiled into the Canadian National Wetland Inventory (CNWI) geodatabase.

More information

Dataset collection criteria

Environment Climate Change Canada compiled 50 wetland database sources that varied in format, classification schema and spatial representation. Each dataset was evaluated against specific criteria to ensure its suitability for inclusion. To qualify, datasets were required to contain

  • polygon features
  • temporal information on polygon features and/or the source inventory to allow for future change detection analyses
  • appropriate metadata and other information used in mapping

After the assessment, 32 datasets met the criteria to be included in the indicator. These datasets included sources that are contained within CNWI databases, CNWI candidate databases, and non-CNWI databases that were appropriate for this indicator but did not contain wetland class information so could not be included in the CNWI databases (indicated as “Non-CNWI” in Figure 1).  Additional databases from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) were used to fill in areas where high-quality data was not available (indicated as “NRCan Land Cover” and “NRCan CanVec” in Figure 1).

Figure 1: Datasets included in the Extent of Canada's wetlands indicator

Data table for the long description
Datasets included in the Extent of Canada's wetlands indicator
Dataset type Province/territory or region CNWI source title Source organization Mapping year Availability of source dataset
CNWI British Columbia BC_BW2022 Government of British Columbia (Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship) 2022 n/a
CNWI British Columbia BC_NWA2021 Government of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service) 2021 n/a
CNWI British Columbia BC_NTBC2022 Nature Trust of British Columbia 2022 n/a
CNWI British Columbia BC_NCC2022 Nature Conservancy of Canada 2022 n/a
CNWI British Columbia BC_DUC2022 Ducks Unlimited Canada 2022 n/a
CNWI New Brunswick BC_NWA2021 Government of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service) 2021 Download link
CNWI Nova Scotia NS_W2023 Government of Nova Scotia (Department of Natural Resources and Renewables) 2023 n/a
CNWI Ontario ON_LIO2022 Government of Ontario (Ministry of Natural Resources) 2022 Download link
CNWI Quebec QC_MH2022 Government of Quebec (Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks); Ducks Unlimited Canada 2022 Download link (in French only)
CNWI Quebec QC_MHPOT2019 Government of Quebec (Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks) 2019 Download link (in French only)
CNWI Prince Edward Island PE_W2023 Government of Prince Edward Island (Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action) 2023 n/a
CNWI Yukon YT_IR2018 Government of Yukon (Department of Energy, Mines and Resources) 2018 n/a
CNWI Yukon YT_VEG2014 Government of Yukon (Department of Energy, Mines and Resources) 2014 Download link
CNWI Candidates Alberta AB_AMWI2021 Government of Alberta (Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas) 2021 Download link
CNWI Candidates Alberta AB_CWI2019 Ducks Unlimited Canada 2019 n/a
CNWI Candidates Manitoba MB_ATMRM2010 Government of Manitoba (Conservation and Water Stewardship); Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation 2010 Download link
CNWI Candidates Manitoba MB_CWI2018 Ducks Unlimited Canada 2018 n/a
CNWI Candidates Manitoba MB_DUCW2004 Ducks Unlimited Canada 2004 n/a
CNWI Candidates Manitoba MB_LC2013 Government of Manitoba (Conservation and Water Stewardship); Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation 2013 Download link
CNWI Candidates Manitoba MB_SPWI2013 Government of Manitoba (Conservation and Water Stewardship); Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation 2013 Download link
CNWI Candidates Manitoba MB_WLWI2009 Government of Manitoba (Conservation and Water Stewardship); Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation 2009 Download link
CNWI Candidates New Brunswick NB_SM2000 Government of New Brunswick (Department of Environment and Local Government) 2000 n/a
CNWI Candidates Newfoundland and Labrador NL_A2005 Government of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service) 2005 n/a
CNWI Candidates Quebec QC_CREDO2023 Ducks Unlimited Canada 2023 n/a
CNWI Candidates Quebec QC_MHPOT2019 Government of Quebec (Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks) 2019 Download link (in French only)
CNWI Candidates Saskatchewan SK_CWI2018 Ducks Unlimited Canada 2018 n/a
CNWI Candidates Saskatchewan SK_DUCW2004 Ducks Unlimited Canada 2004 n/a
CNWI Candidates Saskatchewan SK_GCWDM2022 Government of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service) 2022 n/a
CNWI Candidates Saskatchewan SK_LC2020 Government of Saskatchewan (Ministry of Environment) 2020 Download link
Non-CNWI British Columbia BC_EVI2011 Government of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service) 2011 n/a
Non-CNWI British Columbia BC_FWAW2008 Government of British Columbia (GeoBC Base Mapping Cadastre) 2008 Download link
Non-CNWI Nunavut NU_ELC2012 Government of Nunavut (Department of Environment) 2012 n/a
CanVec Series - Land Features National CanVec2019 Government of Canada (Natural Resources Canada) 2019 Download link
CSRS Land Cover National LandCover2020 Government of Canada (Natural Resources Canada 2020 Download link

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 6.27 kB)

Note: n/a = not available. Datasets without a download link are datasets that have not been published and are not publicly available. Of the 13 source datasets included in the CNWI proof-of-concept publication (February 2024), 3 provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) each had their own provincial dataset. For Yukon and Quebec, 2 datasets were integrated into 1 for each province/territory. For British Columbia, 5 datasets were combined into a single provincial dataset. For Ontario, the source dataset (LIO Wetlands 2022) was split into 2 separate datasets because of its large size. As a result, there are a total of 8 datasets in the CNWI publication package. The British Columbia Wetland datasets can also be found in the CNWI BC Supplement Data Publication (October 2024), which contains a spatial wetland dataset, metadata, templates for field data collection, guidance documentation, and reports.

How this indicator was calculated

Note: CNWI datasets indicate datasets included in the Canadian National Wetlands Inventory (CNWI) database. CNWI Candidates indicate datasets that meet CNWI standards but do not have licensing for publication. Non-CNWI indicate databases that do not contain wetland class information and therefore are not included in the CNWI database.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) Canadian National Wetlands Inventory.

Source dataset processing

Each source dataset was examined for consistency with CNWI Classification Schema and Metadata standards. Datasets selected for inclusion were then validated and cleaned. The dataset was checked for the type of geometry, coordinate system, mandatory fields, precision and length, and geometric issues. Any improperly formatted fields or other issues were resolved.

The datasets were then “cross-walked” into the standardized CNWI schema. This “cross-walk” involved translating the original dataset’s classification system into a unified framework used by the CNWI, ensuring consistency across datasets that were developed using differing methodologies. Finally, the datasets were integrated into the CNWI geodatabase.

National boundaries

The national boundaries used in this indicator are from Natural Resources Canada’s CanVec Series 1:1,000,000 Geopolitical Region, Administrative Boundaries (2019).

Ecozones and ecoregions

The ecozones and ecoregions presented in this indicator are from Environment and Climate Change Canada's  National Ecological Framework of Canada (2024).

Methods

The extent of wetlands is estimated with geographical analysis of the Canadian National Wetlands Inventory (CNWI) database.

Wetlands were mapped as vector data, which were integrated into a national-scale geodatabase. The national wetland layer contains wetland data compiled from the best available data layer for each region. The proportion of wetland in a 10 km by 10 km grid was calculated to produce the national wetland map.

More information

Wetland extent, by ecological area

The database does not contain information on ecological areas. To generate an estimate of wetland extent within each ecozone and ecoregion, a geospatial analysis was conducted. For consistency 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 wetland extent per ecozone was divided by the total area of the ecozone to generate a percentage.

Recent changes

Compared to the last publication in 2016, the indicator now uses the Canadian National Wetlands Inventory (CNWI) for estimating the wetland extent in Canada, which was first released in February 2024. In addition to CNWI data, the indicator also incorporates Land Cover and CanVec data from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). The CNWI uses slightly different data sources and operates at a different scale compared to those used in previous publications of the indicator.

Caveats and limitations

The previous indicator published in 2016 and the current 2025 indicator use different methodologies so are not directly comparable and cannot be used to assess wetland change between those 2 years.

Areas may appear to have few or no wetlands in the figures as a result of a lack of wetland data (Figure 1).

Wetland extent is underestimated at the national level mainly due to the use of coarse resolution remote sensing data from Natural Resources Canada’s Land Cover mapping, meaning that many smaller wetlands are not recorded. Boundary discrepancies may occur due to variations in the quality, resolution, and availability of data across provinces and territories. These differences, along with the use of different datasets across Canada, may result in irregular or imprecise delineations within and between areas.

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Wetlands are difficult to map because they vary seasonally and in vegetation structure and type. The lack of a consistent vegetation pattern can lead to errors when using automated or semi-automated methods designed for remotely sensed data such as aerial photographs or satellite imagery, and intensive ground campaigns are required to produce maps with low error rates. The indicator uses the highest quality datasets that are available, but accuracy varies regionally. The greatest uncertainty is in northern areas. Datasets that are less accurate and/or less current tend to underestimate wetland extent, so national estimates are likely conservative.

Resources

Resources

References

Environment and Climate Change Canada (2016) Water sources: wetlands.

National Wetlands Working Group (1997) The Canadian Wetland Classification System (PDF; 20.5 MB).

Related information

Canadian National Wetlands Inventory

Canadian National Wetlands Inventory (Dataset)

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

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