Protected areas of Canada

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Protected areas of Canada consist of approximately 12.1 percent of the nation's landmass and freshwater are considered conservation areas, including 11.4 percent designated as protected areas.^[1] Approximately 13.8 percent of Canada's territorial waters are conserved, including 8.9 percent designated as protected areas.^[1] Terrestrial areas conserved have increased by 65 percent in the 21st century, while marine areas conserved have increased by more than 3,800 percent.^[1]

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.^[2] Some areas such as the Polar Bear Pass, are co-managed and overseen by government and local indigenous agencies.^[3]

Canada's 18 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves covers a total area of 235,000 square kilometres (91,000 sq mi).^[4] Canada's first National Park, Banff National Park established in 1885, spans 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 sq mi)^[5] of mountainous terrain, with many glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes.^[6] Canada's oldest provincial park, Algonquin Provincial Park established in 1893, covers an area of 7,653.45 square kilometres (2,955.01 sq mi) is dominated by old-growth forest with over 2,400 lakes and 1,200 kilometers of streams and rivers.^[7] Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is the world's largest freshwater protected area spanning roughly 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi) of lakebed, its overlaying freshwater, and associated shoreline on 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi) of islands and mainland's.^[8] Canada's largest national wildlife region is the Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area, which spans 11,570.65 km² (4,467.45 sq mi),^[9] protects critical breeding and nesting habitat for over 40 percent of British Columbia's seabirds.^[10]