Conserving Lands for Biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity includes all of the life forms we experience all around us – animals, plants, insects, microorganisms and more. Together they help create and support the wide array of ecosystems, ecological processes, species and genes that are essential to our existence.
Unfortunately, all over the world it is clear that biodiversity is under threat – from competing land uses, pollution, population growth and other human activities. Protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are a big part of the solution.
We all have a role to play!
Partners from across Canada are working to ensure nature is protected and conserved for generations to come.
What roles do you play in Canada’s conservation network?
Conserving lands for biodiversity - Helping people and the planet
Protected and conserved areas play a vital role in conserving Canada’s biodiversity in the face of population growth, urbanization, industrial development and global climate change.
These areas preserve nature by supporting wildlife habitat and keeping ecosystems functioning. They help us guard against and adapt to the effects of climate change and provide us with ecosystem services like clean air and water. And they provide opportunities for tourism and recreation, supporting healthy experiences and connections for people that improve the quality of our lives.
Protected and conserved areas also provide valuable opportunities to support reconciliation and renewed relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and help people better understand the lands and waters we all depend on.
The world has committed to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030
Canada’s conservation network safeguards biodiversity in every province and territory, and near many communities. While the names of conservation areas may differ between provinces and territories, globally and nationally recognized conservation lands fall into two main categories:
Protected Areas
Areas that exist specifically for the purpose of conserving biodiversity.
Protected Areas Examples
Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)
Areas that conserve biodiversity, but may exist and be managed for some other purpose.
Protected Areas
Areas that exist specifically for the purpose of conserving biodiversity.
Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)
Areas that conserve biodiversity, but may exist and be managed for some other purpose.
Indigenous-led conservation
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are lands and waters where Indigenous Peoples have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems through Indigenous laws, governance and knowledge systems. They support a vision where ecosystems are thriving in balance with resilient communities and Indigenous Peoples, and reflect a growing global trend where governments are recognizing areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Canada's Protected and Conserved Areas Network
Browse dynamic web map (external link)
How much of Canada is protected or conserved?
As of the end of 2023, 13.7% of Canada’s land and freshwater was a protected area or OECM.
Learn more about National reporting
Once it is determined that lands are either a protected area or an OECM (see Evaluate a Site for details), sites can be recognized as being part of Canada’s protected and conserved areas network – the national network of sites that are conserving biodiversity!
This means that they will show up in the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) and the international equivalent.
The CPCAD contains the most up to date data on marine and terrestrial protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) in Canada.
The database is used by a wide range of organizations, including governments, Environmental Non-Government Organizations, academia, land managers, industry, and the public.
