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-Government Organizations, academia, land managers, industry, and the public.

CPCAD supports:

  • 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 data providers include, amongst others, all provinces and territories, as well as federal agencies that manage protected or conserved areas:

    • Parks Canada Agency
    • Environment and Climate Change Canada
    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • National Capital Commission

    In 2022, some new contributors were added, including:

    • Capital Regional District of British Columbia
    • Canadian Border Services Agency
    • Natural Resources Canada
    • National Research Council Canada

    CPCAD is currently endorsed by the Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative.

Data and resources

  • 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.

Summary table - Protected and other conserved areas in Canada, December 2022Footnote 1
Region Baseline area Footnote 2 (km2) PA (km2) OECM (km2) Total (km2) PA (%) OECM (%) Total (%)

National terrestrial

9,984,670

1,264,077

90,953

1,355,029

12.7

0.9

13.6

Alberta

661,848

102,107

0

102,107

15.4

0.0

15.4

British Columbia

944,735

146,590

38,476

185,066

15.5

4.1

19.6

Manitoba

647,797

71,326

231

71,557

11.0

0.0

11.0

New Brunswick

72,908

7,109

85

7,194

9.8

0.1

9.9

Newfoundland and Labrador

405,212

28,143

0

28,143

6.9

0.0

6.9

Northwest Territories

1,346,106

173,140

39,181

212,321

12.9

2.9

15.8

Nova Scotia

55,284

7,211

84

7,294

13.0

0.2

13.2

Nunavut

2,093,190

213,052

0

213,052

10.2

0.0

10.2

Ontario

1,076,395

116,853

43

116,896

10.9

0.0

10.9

Prince Edward Island

5,660

233

38

271

4.1

0.7

4.8

Quebec

1,512,418

254,002

5

254,007

16.8

0.0

16.8

Saskatchewan

651,036

51,031

12,812

63,843

7.8

2.0

9.8

Yukon

482,443

93,320

0

93,320

19.3

0.0

19.3

National marineFootnote 3

5,750,000

524,311

318,517

842,828

9.1

5.5

14.7

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