Protected areas of Canada
Encyclopedia
Protected areas of Canada have been created to protect ecological integrity, as well as to provide areas for recreation
and education
. Most of the protected areas in Canada are terrestrial; however, there has been a growing focus to also protect coastal areas, such as the Bowie Seamount
. Different classifications of protected area exist, depending on the organization which manages them. Similarly, some protected areas have a greater focus on ecological integrity than others.
. 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 Sanctuaries for the protection of wildlife. A National Wildlife Area protects any land or marine environment within the Canadian territorial waters
, that is, extending up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 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 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the coastline. 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 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) limit.
for future generations by placing a covenant on their land.
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
. Most of the protected areas in Canada are terrestrial; however, there has been a growing focus to also protect coastal areas, such as the Bowie Seamount
Bowie Seamount
Bowie Seamount is a large submarine volcano in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, located west of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada.The seamount is named after William Bowie of the Coast & Geodetic Survey....
. Different classifications of protected area exist, depending on the organization which manages them. Similarly, some protected areas have a greater focus on ecological integrity than others.
National parks and protected areas
The primary focus of national parks is to preserve ecological integrity. These parks are administered by Parks CanadaParks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
. National Marine Conservation Areas
National Marine Conservation Areas
National Marine Conservation Areas is a Parks Canada programme responsible for marine areas managed for sustainability and containing smaller zones of high protection. They include the seabed, the water itself and any species which occur there...
, while also under federal control, do not afford the same level of protection.
The Canadian Wildlife Service
Canadian Wildlife Service
The Canadian Wildlife Service or CWS is a branch of the Department of the Environment, also known as Environment Canada, a department of the Government of Canada....
, a division of Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
, manages the National Wildlife Area
National Wildlife Area
A National Wildlife Area is a conservation status for a geographical region in Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. However, land use permits may be issued "for activities that are compatible with conservation". Such areas are established and managed by the Canadian Wildlife...
s, Marine Wildlife Area
Marine Wildlife Area
A Marine Wildlife Area is a conservation status for a marine geographical region of Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. It protects marine areas extending from the edge of territorial waters to the boundary defined by Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone, that is, the areas...
s, and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries for the protection of wildlife. A National Wildlife Area protects any land or marine environment within the Canadian territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters, or a territorial sea, as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a belt of coastal waters extending at most from the baseline of a coastal state...
, that is, extending up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) away from a coast per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...
. A Marine Wildlife Area is used to protect marine environments that are within Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
, extending 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the coastline. 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 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) limit.
Provincial parks
Provincial governments also protect areas within their boundaries.Regional and local parks
Regional governments and local governments also create parks; however, these tend to have a greater focus on recreation.Other forms of conservation
Another form of conservation is made by land owners who want to preserve natureNature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
for future generations by placing a covenant on their land.
See also
- List of National Parks of Canada
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
- The Land ConservancyThe Land ConservancyTLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia is a not-for-profit, charitable land trust based in British Columbia, Canada.The purpose of the Society is to protect plants, animals, natural communities and landscape features that represent diversity of life on earth, by protecting the lands and...