Canada's conserved areas

National conserved areas

Key results

• At the end of 2023, Canada had conserved
  • 13.7% of its terrestrial area (land and freshwater), including 12.8% in protected areas
  • 14.7% of its marine territory, including 9.1% in protected areas
• Terrestrial area conserved has increased by 101% in the last 20 years, by 22% in the last 5 years, and by 1% in the last year
• Marine area conserved has increased by 3 099% in the last 20 years, by 137% in the last 5 years, and by less than 1% in the last year

Proportion of area conserved, Canada, 1990 to 2023

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, 2023.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) 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. In 2023, the first marine refuge within the Northern Shelf Bioregion network, Gwa̲xdlala/Nala̲xdlala in Knight Inlet on the coast of British Columbia, also known as Lull Bay and Hoeya Sound, was announced.

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} New data providers are being added annually, highlighting that protected and conserved areas are a pan-Canadian collaboration. 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, 2023

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, 2023.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database.

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 over 58% 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, 2023

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, 2023.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) 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 2.8% 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 refuges^{Footnote 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, 2023

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, 2023.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) 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.

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 5.1% in Prince Edward Island to 21.1% in Yukon
• Additions in 2023 include:
  • Aullaviat/Aunguniarvik in the Yukon territory, with over 8 000 km² reported
  • 23 new or expanded protected or conserved areas in Quebec, with over 2 000 km² reported

Proportion of terrestrial area conserved, by province and territory, Canada, 2023

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Terrestrial area includes land and freshwater. Data are current as of December 31, 2023.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2024) 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:

• The Yukon, from 19.3% to 21.1%
• British Columbia, from 19.6% to 19.7%
• Quebec, from 16.8% to 16.9%
• Alberta, from 15.4% to 15.5%
• Nova Scotia, from 13.2% to 13.6%
• Manitoba, from 11% to 11.1%
• New Brunswick, from 9.9% to 10.3%
• Newfoundland and Labrador, from 6.9% to 7%
• Prince Edward Island, from 4.8% to 5.1%

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, Edéhzhíe Indigenous Protected Area and Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta Territorial 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
• Gwa̲xdlala/Nala̲xdlala (Lull/Hoeya) marine refuge in Northern Shelf Bioregion of British Columbia

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

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 Guidance for recognizing marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures 2022) and implements the federal 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 are used for reporting on the following 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy 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 2023, 14.7% of Canada’s coastal and marine areas was recognized as conserved through 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 2023, 13.7% 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 12.8% in protected areas.

The indicators are also used for reporting progress on Target 3 of Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy: "Protected and conserved areas (30x30)." This target is related to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 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."

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."

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2022) Operational Guidance for Identifying "Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures" in Canada's Marine Environment. Retrieved on April 29, 2024. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2022) Guidance for recognizing marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures 2022.

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

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.

Related information

2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada

Canadian Council on Ecological Areas

Convention on Biological Diversity

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

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Pathway to Canada Target 1

ProtectedPlanet.net