Protected Areas, by Province and Territory

The proportion of area protected varies by province and territory, ranging from 2.8% to 14.4%. Differences in geography and history influence the degree of protection. For example, Prince Edward Island is highly agricultural, while recreational use of mountainous British Columbian landscapes is compatible with protection.

Total percent of land protected by province and territory, 2011

Note: Areas include freshwater but not marine areas. Not all provinces and territories report on protected areas that are privately owned.
Source: For Canada except Quebec: Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA) (2011) Conservation Areas Reporting and Tracking System (CARTS); data current as of 31 December, 2011. For Quebec: Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs (2011) Base de données du Registre des aires protégées au Québec; data current as of 31 December, 2011.

British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Ontario, and Manitoba have the greatest proportion of territory under some level of protection (greater than 10% for land areas).

Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have more than 7.5% of their territories under protection.

Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have less than 5% of their territory under protection.

Related indicators

• Canada’s Protected Areas 
• Protected Areas, by Ecozone⁺
• Protected Areas, International Comparison