Evaluate a site
Got Lands?
If you own lands, you may be wondering if your lands can count towards Canada’s conservation network? If they have identifiable borders, an effective way to conserve biodiversity, and are expected to conserve biodiversity for the long term, they may be part of Canada’s conservation network!
Evaluate lands and inland waters using the Decision Support Tool
Guidance and criteria for evaluating areas that may contribute to Canada’s conservation targets. The guidance accompanying this document will be updated regularly based on user feedback and lessons learned.
The Decision Support Tool is pan-Canadian guidance for assessing areas against the pan-Canadian standards for protected areas and OECMs in terrestrial and inland water areas.
The decision support tool template can be used to help guide your evaluation of a site to determine if it is a protected area or an OECM. Examples of site evaluations are below.
Examples of sites evaluated using the Decision Support Tool
Partners throughout Canada are using the tool to identify areas that may contribute to Canada’s national conservation network. These examples include completed templates for areas that qualify as a protected area or an OECM, or those that require additional attention in order to qualify.
- All
- OECM
- Protected Area
- Province or Territory
- Indigenous
- Private
- Federal
- Municipal
- Government
Canadian Forces Base Shilo (MB)
CFB Shilo as a whole supports a wide-range of military training by both home and visiting units. Screened as an OECM.
Chignecto National Widlife Area (NS)
The Chignecto National Wildlife Area is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service to maintain or restore naturally occurring ecosystems. Reported as a Protected Area.
Nicolet Migratory Bird Sanctuary (QC)
The Nicolet MBS is an important staging area for waterbirds and also a prime location for waterfowl nesting along the St. Lawrence. Reported as a Protected Area.
Wehexlaxodiale (NT)
Wehexlaxodıale are two areas where the connection between Tłı̨chǫ culture and heritage and the land are very strong and in need of full protection.Reported as a Protected Area.
City of London (ON)
Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA) are located within the boundaries of the City of London. ESAs are large areas that contain natural features and perform ecological functions that warrant their retention in a natural state. Reported as a Protected Area.
Cootes Paradise Sanctuary (ON)
Numerous (20+) Species at Risk (SAR) are present on this property with a total of 35 regulated species found onsite focused to the forest areas.Screened as a Protected Area.
An overview of the Decision Support Tool – where it came from, what it includes and how to use it.
Additional Training Material
Training materials from joint CCEA-Accounting Working Group screening workshop.
Submitting new protected or conserved areas for consideration
If you require assistance to complete a screening of a potential Protected Area or Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM) using the Decision Support Tool, please contact ERcataloguePW@ec.gc.ca.
If you have completed a screening for an area that you would like to propose be considered for inclusion in the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database, please send the completed Decision Support Tool Screening Template for Protected Areas and OECMs to the appropriate contact, listed by jurisdiction. If your jurisdiction is not listed, please send completed screenings to ERcataloguePW@ec.gc.ca.
| Jurisdiction | Contact information |
| Alberta | barbara.bahnmann@gov.ab.ca |
| Manitoba | pai@gov.mb.ca |
| New Brunswick | maryse.bourgeois@gnb.ca |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | emilythompson@gov.nl.ca |
| Nova Scotia | David.MacKinnon2@novascotia.ca |
| Northwest Territories | Danielle_Thompson@gov.nt.ca |
| Ontario | laura.bjorgan@ontario.ca PA.OECM.Reporting@Ontario.ca |
| Prince Edward Island | ggregory@gov.pe.ca |
| Yukon | jessica.elliott@yukon.ca |
