Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database
This is a database of protected and other conserved areas.
Introduction
The Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) contains the most up to date spatial and attribute data on marine and terrestrial protected areas (PA) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) in Canada. CPCAD is compiled and managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), in collaboration with federal, provincial, territorial jurisdictions, and other data providers.
CPCAD is used by a wide range of organizations, including governments, environmental non-governmental organizations, academia, land managers, industry, and the public.
CPCAD supports:
- Canada’s national reporting on protected and conserved areas through:
- Canada’s international reporting on protected and conserved areas as a result of Canada’s commitments under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity through:
- Canada’s National Reports to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity
- the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)
- Canada’s protected areas program by providing baseline information for:
- the design and expansion of protected and conserved areas networks
- species at risk, critical habitat, and integrated conservation planning
- other assessments, analysis, and visualizations by diverse users
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Background information
CPCAD partnerships
The CPCAD database evolved from the Conservation Areas Reporting and Tracking System (CARTS). CARTS was jointly managed between Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA). CCEA developed the original tools and guidance to recognize and report on protected areas. Since 2018, CPCAD has been compiled and managed by ECCC in partnership with the data providers.
CPCAD receives data from many providers. These include federal, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations, local governments, environmental non-governmental organizations, and private landowners.
The number of data providers continues to grow.
New contributors in 2023 included:
- Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area
- BC Nature
- J.D. Irving Limited
- Miistakis Institute
- Nature Conservancy of CanadaFootnote 1
- Northern Biomes LTD
- Regional District of Central Okanagan
New contributors in 2024 included:
- Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Manitoba Habitat Conservancy
- Otipemisiwak Métis Government
- Transport Canada
CPCAD is endorsed by the Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative.
Data and resources
By clicking on any of the following download links, you agree to the following terms:
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GIS data access
The CPCAD geospatial data can be used and accessed with Geographic Information System (GIS) software that supports ESRI file geodatabases (.gdb) such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Desktop, and QGIS. It can also be accessed through ESRI REST Web Mapping Services available on the Open Government Portal.
December 2024 CPCAD file geodatabase Footnote 2
For historical CPCAD data please email: scf-geocarto-cws-geomapping@ec.gc.ca
Statistics
| Region | Baseline area Footnote 3 (km2) | PA (km2) | OECM (km2) | Total (km2) | PA (%) | OECM (%) | Total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National terrestrial | 9,984,670 |
1,280,965 |
92,753 |
1,373,718 |
12.8 |
0.9 |
13.8 |
Alberta | 661,848 |
102,910 |
255 |
103,165 |
15.5 |
0 |
15.6 |
British Columbia | 944,735 |
149,876 |
38,484 |
188,360 |
15.9 |
4.1 |
19.9 |
Manitoba | 647,797 |
71,845 |
231 |
72,076 |
11.1 |
0 |
11.1 |
New Brunswick | 72,908 |
7,408 |
118 |
7,526 |
10.2 |
0.2 |
10.3 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 405,212 |
28,185 |
31 |
28,216 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
Northwest Territories | 1,346,106 |
173,825 |
40,427 |
214,252 |
12.9 |
3 |
15.9 |
Nova Scotia | 55,284 |
7,470 |
84 |
7,554 |
13.5 |
0.2 |
13.7 |
Nunavut | 2,093,190 |
213,037 |
0 |
213,037 |
10.2 |
0 |
10.2 |
Ontario | 1,076,395 |
117,552 |
251 |
117,803 |
10.9 |
0 |
10.9 |
Prince Edward Island | 5,660 |
254 |
53 |
307 |
4.5 |
0.9 |
5.4 |
Quebec | 1,512,418 |
256,533 |
7 |
256,540 |
17 |
0 |
17 |
Saskatchewan | 651,036 |
51,087 |
12,811 |
63,898 |
7.8 |
2 |
9.8 |
Yukon | 482,443 |
101,710 |
0 |
101,710 |
21.1 |
0 |
21.1 |
National marineFootnote 4 | 5,750,000 |
657,329 |
236,108 |
893,437 |
11.4 |
4.1 |
15.5 |