Ontario

In Ontario, approximately 10.6 million hectares (9.9% of the province as of 2010) are designated as protected. Environment Canada maintains 19 protected areas in Ontario, including 10 National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) and 9 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBSs), comprising over 32 thousand hectares of the province's protected lands and waters.

Map of Environment Canada's Protected Areas in Ontario

List of Protected Areas in Ontario

The tables below contain information about the NWAs and MBSs shown on the map above. In addition to the name, year of establishment, and size of each protected area, the tables indicate how these sites fit into national and international networks of conservation areas. The following entities may be noted:

Ramsar: Wetland of International Importance
IBA: Important Bird Area
WHSRN: Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
MAB: Biosphere reserve of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme

National Wildlife Areas

No.	Name	Year established	Size in hectares	Notes
1	Big Creek NWA	1978	776
2	Eleanor Island NWA	1971	0.78	also Eleanor Island MBS
3	Long Point NWA	1980	3,465	also Long Point Ramsar site part of Long Point Peninsula and Marshes IBA part of Long Point MAB
4	Mississippi Lake NWA	1978	277	overlaps with Mississippi Lake MBS
5	Mohawk Island NWA	1976	2
6	Prince Edward Point NWA	1980	523	part of Prince Edward County South Shore IBA
7	Scotch Bonnet Island NWA	1979	0.84
8	St. Clair NWA	1978	358	also St. Clair Ramsar site part of Eastern Lake St. Clair IBA
9	Wellers Bay NWA	1978	74
10	Wye Marsh NWA	1978	48	part of Wye Marsh IBA
Total:			5,525

 

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries

No.	Name	Year established	Size in hectares	Notes
1	Beckett Creek MBS	1969	179
2	Chantry Island MBS	1957	64	part of Chantry Island IBA
3	Eleanor Island MBS	1971	0.78	also Eleanor Island NWA
4	Hannah Bay MBS	1939	19,119	joins a portion in Nunavut (total area = 25,218 ha) part of Southern James Bay Ramsar site part of Hannah Bay IBA part of East Point IBA
5	Mississippi Lake MBS	1959	300	overlaps with Mississippi Lake NWA
6	Moose River MBS	1958	2,690	part of Southern James Bay Ramsar site part of Moose River Estuary IBA
7	Rideau MBS	1957	754
8	St. Joseph's Island MBS	1951	891
9	Upper Canada MBS	1961	2,572
Total:			26,570

 

Access and Permitting

Although access to NWAs is not restricted, the primary purpose of these areas is to protect and conserve wildlife and their habitats, and therefore most NWAs are not equipped with facilities to accommodate public visitation. Unless otherwise posted, all recreational activities are prohibited within NWAs.

Although access to most MBSs is not restricted either, the primary intent of these sanctuaries is to protect migratory birds, and therefore hunting, as well as disturbing or molesting migratory birds, their eggs, nests or habitat, is prohibited.

A permit may be obtained from the Minister of the Environment authorizing the conduct of certain activities in an NWA or MBS, if the Minister or delegate is of the opinion that the proposed activity:

• will not interfere with the conservation of wildlife; or
  
• is consistent with the purpose for which the protected area was established; and
  
• is consistent with the management plan for the protected area.

Additional information on entry, prohibited activities and permits in Environment Canada's protected areas is provided on the Management and Activities web pages of the National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. For more information on Environment Canada's protected areas in Ontario please contact the regional Environment Canada office: 

Environment Canada - Ontario Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Ecosystem Conservation
465 Gideon Drive
P.O. Box 490 (Lambeth Station)
London, ON
N6P 1R1
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca or Wildlife.Ontario@ec.gc.ca