View source for Protected areas of Canada

{{Short description|Areas protected for conservation or historical reasons}}
{{WildlifeofCanada}}
'''Protected areas of Canada''' consist of approximately 12.1 percent of the nation's landmass and freshwater are considered [[Wildlife conservation|conservation areas]], including 11.4 percent designated as [[protected areas]].<ref name=conserved/> Approximately 13.8 percent of Canada's territorial waters are conserved, including 8.9 percent designated as protected areas.<ref name=conserved>{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/conserved-areas.html|title=Canada's conserved areas|publisher=Environment and Climate Canada|year=2020}}</ref>  Terrestrial areas conserved have  increased by 65 percent in the  21st century, while marine areas conserved have increased by more than 3,800 percent.<ref name=conserved/>

Conservation and protected areas have different mandates depending on the organization which manages them, with some areas having a greater focus on ecological integrity, historical preservation, public usage, scientific research, or a combination of usages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/protected-areas|title=Protected Areas |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia|year=2014}}</ref> Some areas such as the  [[Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area|Polar Bear Pass]], are [[Comanagement in Canada|co-managed and overseen by government and local indigenous agencies]].<ref name="BeazleyBaldwin2019">{{cite book|author1=Karen Beazley|author2=Robert Baldwin|title=Biodiversity and Protected Areas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NZ2SDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA112|year=2019|publisher=MDPI|isbn=978-3-03897-732-2|page=112}}</ref>

Canada's 18 [[Biosphere Reserves of Canada|UNESCO Biosphere Reserves]] covers a total area of  {{convert|235,000|km2}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biospherecanada.ca/|title=UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of Canada|publisher=e CanadianBiosphere Reserves Association and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO|year=2018}} [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5735fdc137013b8eeb217d63/t/5c40d868575d1f41918199a3/1547753580117/Biosphere-brochure-web.pdf PDF]</ref> Canada's first National Park, [[Banff National Park]] established in 1885, spans {{convert|6,641|km2}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/pm-mp/guidem-mguide/sec15/gm-mg15_e.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615122147/http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/pm-mp/guidem-mguide/sec15/gm-mg15_e.pdf |archive-date=June 15, 2006|title=The Mountain Guide – Banff National Park|publisher=Parks Canada|year=2006}}</ref> of mountainous terrain, with many [[glacier]]s and [[ice field]]s, dense [[pinophyta|coniferous]] forest, and alpine landscapes.<ref name="Price2013">{{cite book|author=Martin F. Price|title=Mountain Area Research and Management: Integrated Approaches|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hNIZihxXTwsC&pg=PA217|year=2013|publisher=Earthscan|isbn=978-1-84977-201-3|pages=217–218}}</ref>  Canada's oldest provincial park, [[Algonquin Provincial Park]] established in 1893, covers an area of  {{convert|7653.45|km2}} is dominated by  [[old-growth forest]] with over 2,400 lakes and 1,200 kilometers of streams and rivers.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ontario.ca/page/algonquin-provincial-park-management-plan| title = Algonquin Provincial Park Management Plan {{!}} ontario.ca}} </ref> [[Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area]] is the world's largest freshwater protected area spanning roughly {{convert|10000|km2}} of lakebed, its overlaying freshwater, and associated shoreline on {{convert|60|km2}} of islands and mainland's.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/mpaspotlight-pleinsfeuxzpm/index-eng.html|title=Spotlight on Marine Protected Areas in Canada|first=Fisheries and Oceans Canada|last=Government of Canada|date=December 13, 2017|website=www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca}}</ref> Canada's  largest national wildlife region is the [[Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area]], which spans {{convert|11570.65|km2|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Scott Islands Marine National Widllife Area|url=https://www.protectedplanet.net/555695926|access-date=2020-09-25|website=Protected Planet}}</ref> protects critical breeding and nesting habitat for over 40 percent of [[British Columbia]]'s [[seabirds]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-wildlife-areas/locations/scott-islands-marine/regulatory-strategy.html|title=Proposed Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area: regulatory strategy|first=Environment and Climate Change|last=Canada|date=February 7, 2013|website=aem}}</ref>

==Legislation==

Canada established the world's first national park management agency the [[Dominion Parks Branch]] now [[Parks Canada]] in 1911.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/travel/northamerica/article/990243--parks-canada-celebrates-a-century-of-discovery|title=Parks Canada celebrates a century of discovery|last=Irish|first=Paul|date=May 13, 2011|work=Toronto Star|access-date=May 18, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516235956/http://www.thestar.com/travel/northamerica/article/990243--parks-canada-celebrates-a-century-of-discovery|archive-date=May 16, 2011}}</ref> In 1916, Canada and the United States signed the [[Migratory Birds Convention]], which regulates the hunting of transcontinental migratory birds under the [[Migratory Birds Convention Act]].<ref>[https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-countries-regions/north-america/canada-united-states-protecting-migratory-birds.html Canada-US convention protecting migratory birds - Canada.ca<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The [[Canada Wildlife Act]] of 1973 goal is research on wildlife with a focus on larger species.<ref>[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/w-9/FullText.html Canada Wildlife Act<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The 1985  [[Fisheries Act]] regulates fishing, including the conservation and protection of fish and their spawning grounds.<ref>[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-14/ Fisheries Act<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The [[National Marine Conservation Area|National Marine Conservation Areas Act]] established  a system of national marine conservation areas in 2002.<ref>[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-7.3/ Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Canada's [[Species at Risk Act]] (SARA) is the federal government legislation  to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct.<ref name="NEducation">{{cite book|author=Nelson Education|title=Living in the Environment, Canadian Edition, 4th ed.|date=16 May 2016|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r5qzDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT318|publisher=Nelson Education|isbn=978-0-17-675682-6|page=318}}</ref>

==Conservation  agencies ==

The primary focus of [[National Parks of Canada|national parks]] is to preserve ecological integrity. These parks are administered by [[Parks Canada]]. [[National Marine Conservation Areas]], while also under federal control, do not afford the same level of protection. The [[Canadian Wildlife Service]], a division of [[Environment Canada]], manages the [[National Wildlife Area]]s, [[Marine Wildlife Area]]s, and [[Migratory Bird Sanctuary|Migratory Bird Sanctuaries]] for the protection of wildlife.<ref name="areas">{{cite web
|url=http://www.hww.ca/en/issues-and-topics/environment-canadas.html
|title=Environment Canada's Protected Areas Network
|work=Hinterland Who's Who
|publisher=Canadian Wildlife Service
|access-date=2019-03-14}}</ref> A National Wildlife Area protects any land or marine environment within the Canadian [[territorial waters]], that is, extending up to {{convert|12|nmi|km}} away from a coast per the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]]. A Marine Wildlife Area is used to protect marine environments that are within Canada's [[Exclusive Economic Zone]], extending {{convert|200|nmi|km}} from the coastline.<ref name="MWA-NWA">{{cite web
|url=http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/mx-205/opening
|title=Casting the bottom line on the blue planet
|work=Proceedings of the 1997 Conference of the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas
|last=Wiken
|first=Ed
|publisher=[[Natural Resources Canada]]
|access-date=2008-01-29 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080612062616/http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/mx-205/opening <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-06-12}}</ref> Two separate areas, one a National Wildlife Area and the other a Marine Wildlife Area, could be created to protect a contiguous zone covering land and marine features extending to the {{convert|200|nmi|km|adj=on}} limit.

[[List of Canadian protected areas|Provincial and territorial governments also protect areas]] within their boundaries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/canadian-provinces-territories-by-percentage-of-protected-terrestrial-area.html|title=Canadian Provinces/Territories By Percentage Of Protected Terrestrial Area|website=WorldAtlas}}</ref> [[Urban parks in Canada]] are operated by [[local government in Canada|municipal governments]] for public recreation and foliage preservation in cities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/city-parks|title=City parks |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia|year=2017}}</ref>

Another form of conservation is made by land owners who want to preserve [[nature]] for future generations by placing a covenant on their land.

==Lists of  conserved areas and sites ==
{{Canada provinces map|border=none|prefix=List of protected areas of|the=the|map=Canadian National Parks Location.png|width=225px|caption=Protected areas by province }}
* [[List of Canadian protected areas]]
* [[List of National Parks of Canada]]
* [[National Wildlife Area#List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada|List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada]]
* [[List of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of Canada]]
* [[List of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Canada]]
* [[List of national historic sites of Canada]]
* [[List of World Heritage Sites in Canada]]{{-}}

==See also==
{{portal|border=no|Canada}}
*[[Aquatic invasive species in Canada]]
*[[Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society]]
*[[List of invasive species in North America]]
*[[List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Canada)]]
*[[Wildlife of Canada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Canada topic|List of protected areas in|Protected areas of Canada}}
{{North America topic|Protected areas of}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Canada| ]]