Progress status
Limited progress
Limited progress

This indicator corresponds to the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators Canada’s conserved areas.

Sub-categories

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Headline data

Proportion of Canada's land and inland waters conserved
Year Value GeoCode
1990 4.5
1991 4.5
1992 4.7
1993 4.8
1994 4.8
1995 5.2
1996 5.3
1997 5.4
1998 5.7
1999 5.9
2000 6.0
2001 6.3
2002 6.4
2003 6.9
2004 7.0
2005 7.3
2006 7.3
2007 7.6
2008 8.1
2009 8.4
2010 8.5
2011 8.8
2012 9.2
2013 9.6
2014 9.6
2015 10.2
2016 10.2
2017 10.2
2018 11.3
2019 12.1
2020 13.0
2021 13.5
2022 13.6
2023 13.7

Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Geographical Area: Canada, provinces and territories

Unit of Measurement: Percentage

The table below contains more information regarding the indicator.

Indicator name

Proportion of Canada’s land and inland waters conserved
Target

Conserve 25% of Canada’s land and inland waters by 2025, working towards 30% by 2030
Indicator description

This indicator measures the proportion of Canada’s terrestrial (land and freshwater) area that is conserved. Conserved areas are lands and waters where human use is limited. They include protected areas as well as other effective area-based conservation measures. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Geographical coverage

Canada, provinces and territories
Unit of measurement

Percentage
Calculations

The area conserved is estimated by means of a geographical analysis based on reported boundaries, accounting for overlaps. (ECCC)
Comments and limitations

Trends are estimated based on the date a site was established, rather than the date when it was recognized as a Protected Area or other effective area-based conservation measure (OECM). As such, the totals for a previous year may change as data are updated.

Comparisons with previous reports should be made with caution, as data quality and completeness continue to improve. Privately protected land and other effective area-based conservation measures contribute to achievement of Canada's targets, but many are not yet captured within the database. (ECCC)
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