Widely Enjoyed but Inadequately Valued, Canada’s Protected and Conserved Areas

Economy

Nature is a key economic asset

Canada’s protected and conserved areas are powerful economic drivers that support jobs, tourism and local businesses. With $1.8 billion in federal spending, these areas contributed $10.9 billion to Canada’s GDP. Each government dollar used to keep these areas healthy generates $3.62 in visitor spending.

Investing in nature is smart economics, because the benefits don’t happen once; the payoff grows year after year as people continue to visit Canada’s parks and protected areas.

Environment

The natural infrastructure we depend on

Protected and conserved areas keep Canada’s most critical ecosystems safe and healthy, allowing species to thrive, enriching biodiversity, and reducing the environmental risks we face. When ecosystems are at their best, the benefits are abundant.

Each day, Canadians rely on natural systems that filter our water, purify our air, and stabilize food systems. Protected areas store vast amounts of carbon in soil, vegetation and the seabed, which lowers greenhouse gasses and supports climate regulation around the world.

Health & Well-being

Protected Areas Support Canadian Health

Time spent in nature strengthens social connections and supports healthy family development. It’s a low-cost, scalable, and accessible way to improve mental and physical health, with particularly strong benefits reported by women and people caring for children. By increasing equitable access to protected areas, the quality of life for Canadians can improve nationwide.

Why it matters

Nature’s Immeasurable Value

Nature is central to our national identity, yet it is one of Canada’s most undercounted assets. It sustains our cultures and traditions as well as the landscapes we call home. Coastal communities rely on healthy oceans to feed families and sustain local businesses, just as thriving forests and fertile soils support livelihoods across the country.  

While this report measured the value of land, freshwater, and ocean that is currently protected, the complete value of nature in Canada has yet to be accounted for. Protected and conserved areas sustain biodiversity and ecosystem health and improve our mental and physical well-being while advancing reconciliation through Indigenous-led stewardship and shared governance.

Investing in nature is investing in the Canadian way of life now, and for generations to come.

What can you do next? Share these findings, support conservation efforts, visit protected areas, and engage decision-makers to expand protection.