Table of Contents
Canada’s national parks represent one of the most comprehensive and well-managed protected area systems in the world. These remarkable landscapes serve as vital sanctuaries for biodiversity, protect critical ecosystems, and provide Canadians and international visitors with opportunities to connect with nature. From the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the rugged Atlantic coastlines, Canada’s national parks showcase the country’s extraordinary natural diversity while playing an essential role in conservation, climate action, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Understanding Canada’s National Parks System
Canada has 39 national parks and eight national park reserves, creating a network that protects diverse ecosystems across the country. Presently, approximately 343,456 square kilometres of land in Canada are protected through 37 national parks, 11 national park reserves and 1 national urban park. This extensive system ensures that every province and territory in Canada has at least one national park, making these protected areas accessible to communities across the nation.
The national parks system operates under a comprehensive framework designed to represent Canada’s natural diversity. The National Parks System Plan identifies each of Canada’s unique natural regions, with the aim of the plan to protect a representative sample of each of these landscapes. This systematic approach divides Canada into 39 distinct terrestrial regions, ensuring that the parks system captures the full spectrum of the country’s ecological variety.
British Columbia has seven national parks, the most in Canada, reflecting the province’s diverse geography that ranges from coastal rainforests to interior mountain ranges. The distribution of parks across the country ensures that Canadians from all regions can access these protected spaces and experience the natural heritage that defines their nation.
Visitor Engagement and Economic Impact
Canada’s national parks attract millions of visitors annually, demonstrating their importance as destinations for recreation, education, and tourism. In total, over 15 million visitors benefited from national parks during the 2024/25 season. While there was a slight dip in visitation from 23.7 million in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 to 23.2 million, attributable to a drop in visitation at Jasper National Park due to the wildfire, the overall trend shows strong and sustained public interest in these protected areas.
The economic contribution of national parks extends far beyond entrance fees. Based on a report from 2023/24, visitor spending at Parks Canada sites contributed $4.0 billion to the GDP, supported 40,264 full‑time jobs across Canada and generated $584 million in tax revenues. These figures underscore the dual role of national parks as both conservation areas and economic drivers for local and regional communities.
Beyond economic metrics, national parks provide significant health and wellness benefits. 89% of respondents agreed that being able to visit national parks is important to their mental health, highlighting the psychological value of access to natural spaces. Additionally, 78% said access to national parks was important to their physical health, demonstrating the multifaceted benefits these protected areas provide to Canadian society.
Conservation Priorities and Ecological Integrity
The primary mandate of Canada’s national parks is the protection and preservation of natural heritage for present and future generations. Working with Indigenous partners, Parks Canada manages one of the few national park systems in the world that has a system-wide ecological integrity monitoring and reporting program, using scientific measures to inform park-specific priorities and guide restoration action. This comprehensive approach ensures that conservation efforts are grounded in rigorous science and adaptive management.
Ecological integrity is the cornerstone of national park management. Ecosystems have ecological integrity when their components, such as native species, biological communities, natural landscapes, and ecological functions, are intact and are likely to endure. Recent assessments show progress in maintaining this integrity: As of March 2025, the ecological integrity of 80% of park ecosystems has been maintained or improved, consistent with the result in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 and represents a slight improvement over the previous three years.
Species at Risk and Biodiversity Protection
National parks serve as critical refuges for species at risk and play a vital role in biodiversity conservation. Parks Canada implements comprehensive monitoring programs and restoration projects specifically designed to support vulnerable species. The agency’s conservation work integrates both scientific research and Indigenous knowledge to create effective, culturally informed conservation strategies.
Parks Canada’s Conservation and Restoration (CoRe) program plays an important role in supporting healthy ecosystems, protecting wildlife, and tackling climate change, and contributing to the recovery of species at risk. Science and Indigenous knowledge are the foundation for conservation action to restore ecological integrity in Parks Canada’s places. This dual approach recognizes that effective conservation requires both Western scientific methods and traditional ecological knowledge accumulated over generations.
Conservation projects across the park system address diverse ecological challenges. From protecting imperiled turtle populations through wildlife ecopassages to restoring native grasslands and removing invasive species, these initiatives demonstrate the breadth and depth of Parks Canada’s conservation commitment. Each project contributes not only to local ecosystem health but also to broader national and international biodiversity goals.
Ecological Corridors and Landscape Connectivity
Recognizing that protected areas cannot function as isolated islands, Parks Canada has developed an innovative approach to landscape connectivity. Ecological corridors are areas of land and water that aim to maintain or restore ecological connectivity by allowing species to move, and natural processes to flow freely across large landscapes. These corridors are essential for helping wildlife adapt to climate change and maintaining genetic diversity across populations.
In fiscal year 2024 to 2025, Parks Canada announced nearly $7 million in funding to support ten corridor projects to conserve and restore ecological connectivity in priority areas across Canada. In fiscal year 2025 to 2026, Parks Canada will continue to advance ecological corridors on-the-ground within the 23 national priority areas for ecological corridors in collaboration with a diverse range of partners, experts, and stakeholders.
The ecological corridor program represents a forward-thinking approach to conservation that acknowledges the interconnected nature of ecosystems. By facilitating movement and gene flow between protected areas, these corridors help ensure the long-term viability of wildlife populations and ecosystem processes. This work directly supports international biodiversity targets and demonstrates Canada’s leadership in landscape-scale conservation.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Canada’s national parks play an increasingly important role in addressing climate change, both as carbon sinks and as refuges for species adapting to changing conditions. Protected areas help to conserve biodiversity, protect ecosystem services, connect landscapes, and absorb and store carbon. Canada’s protection of lands and oceans helps to fight and mitigate the effects of climate change. Lands and oceans can act as carbon sinks, absorbing greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise warm our planet. They also provide refuge and migration routes to help native wildlife species cope with a changing climate.
The carbon storage capacity of some protected areas is particularly significant. One of the largest complexes of carbon-rich peatlands in the world is in the Hudson Bay-James Bay Lowlands, a region in northern Ontario and Manitoba that is home to the Omushkego Cree where a proposed national marine conservation area spans 86,000 square kilometres. These peatlands store an enormous amount of carbon, helping regulate the global climate. The Omushkego Cree call them “Yehewin Aski,” the Breathing Lands, the lungs of the world.
Climate change also presents significant challenges to park management. Extreme weather events, including unprecedented wildfires, droughts, and flooding, have tested the resilience of park ecosystems and infrastructure. The 2024 Jasper wildfire, which significantly impacted visitation and required extensive emergency response, exemplifies the growing challenges that climate change poses to protected area management.
Indigenous Partnerships and Reconciliation
A defining feature of Canada’s modern approach to national parks is the central role of Indigenous partnerships in park establishment and management. Strong relationships with Indigenous partners contribute to the process of reconciliation between Indigenous peoples, Parks Canada, and other Canadians. This is based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership. The creation of new protected areas provides an opportunity to advance strong relationships with Indigenous communities based on principles of shared stewardship and co-management.
The integration of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives has become fundamental to conservation practice. As of March 2025, the number of places administered by Parks Canada where Indigenous Peoples use lands and waters according to their traditional and modern cultural practices has increased to 77 places, surpassing the target set for March 2026. This achievement reflects a meaningful shift toward recognizing Indigenous rights and incorporating Indigenous stewardship into protected area management.
Recent park establishments demonstrate this collaborative approach. In 2024, Parks Canada and the Mi’kmaq Epekwitnewaq Kapmntemuow added Canada’s 48th national park, Pituamkek National Park Reserve on Prince Edward Island, to the family of sites across the country. Such partnerships ensure that new protected areas reflect Indigenous values, support traditional practices, and contribute to cultural continuity.
Traditional Knowledge in Conservation
Indigenous knowledge systems offer unique insights into ecosystem management and species conservation. The opportunity to explore and learn from the waters, lands, and ice also emphasizes Indigenous knowledge, values, and cultures, as well as how Indigenous peoples view these environments as connected and seamless ecosystems. Indigenous perspectives tell us that there are no lines separating waters, lands, and ice; rather, they are a unified whole. This holistic perspective increasingly informs Parks Canada’s approach to ecosystem management.
The integration of traditional ecological knowledge with Western science creates more robust and culturally appropriate conservation strategies. Indigenous communities bring generations of observation and understanding of local ecosystems, seasonal patterns, and species behavior. This knowledge proves invaluable for monitoring ecosystem changes, identifying conservation priorities, and developing management approaches that respect both ecological and cultural values.
Expanding the Protected Areas Network
Canada has committed to ambitious conservation targets as part of its response to the global biodiversity crisis. The Government of Canada is committed to protecting biodiversity through the conservation of 30% of lands by 2030. Parks Canada will strive to contribute to this goal by establishing 10 new national parks. This commitment aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and positions Canada as a leader in international conservation efforts.
Progress toward these targets involves multiple strategies. In collaboration with partners, feasibility assessments have continued for several prospective national parks, national park reserves, and national marine conservation areas, with additional sites being identified this year. The establishment process involves extensive consultation with Indigenous communities, provincial and territorial governments, and other stakeholders to ensure that new protected areas meet both conservation objectives and community needs.
The national urban parks program represents an innovative expansion of the protected areas concept. Parks Canada has also advanced work on the commitment to designate up to six national urban parks by 2025 and is actively involved in discussions for seven national urban park candidate sites. These urban protected areas aim to bring nature conservation and access closer to where most Canadians live, while providing opportunities for Indigenous stewardship and cultural connection in urban settings.
Marine Conservation Areas
While terrestrial national parks have long been the focus of Canada’s protected areas system, marine conservation areas represent a growing priority. As of March 31, 2024, the national marine conservation area system remains at 21% complete, with six of 29 marine regions represented. Expanding marine protection is essential for comprehensive biodiversity conservation and for meeting Canada’s ocean protection commitments.
Marine conservation areas protect unique underwater ecosystems, support fisheries sustainability, and preserve coastal and marine biodiversity. The establishment of new marine protected areas often involves complex negotiations with fishing communities, Indigenous groups, and other ocean users to balance conservation objectives with sustainable use. Recent feasibility assessments and partnership agreements signal significant progress in expanding marine protection across Canada’s three ocean coastlines.
Iconic National Parks and Their Features
While all of Canada’s national parks contribute to conservation and provide visitor experiences, several parks have achieved iconic status due to their exceptional natural features and popularity.
Banff National Park
Banff National Park was the most visited national park in Canada in 2024/25 with over four million visitors. As Canada’s oldest national park, established in 1885, Banff holds special significance in the country’s conservation history. The park’s stunning mountain scenery, including the famous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, draws visitors from around the world.
Banff’s popularity presents both opportunities and challenges. The park serves as an important gateway for introducing people to nature and conservation, but high visitation levels require careful management to protect sensitive ecosystems. The park has implemented various visitor management strategies, including reservation systems for popular areas and shuttle services to reduce traffic congestion and environmental impact.
Beyond its scenic beauty, Banff protects critical wildlife habitat for species including grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and bighorn sheep. The park’s wildlife crossing structures, including overpasses and underpasses along the Trans-Canada Highway, have become models for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions while maintaining habitat connectivity. These innovations demonstrate how parks can balance conservation needs with infrastructure requirements.
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park, Canada’s largest Rocky Mountain park, offers vast wilderness areas and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. The park protects diverse ecosystems ranging from montane valleys to alpine tundra, supporting populations of caribou, grizzly bears, and numerous other species. Jasper’s designation as part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizes its outstanding universal value.
The park faced significant challenges in 2024 when wildfires impacted the townsite and surrounding areas. This event highlighted both the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems to climate change and the importance of fire management in maintaining ecological processes. While fire is a natural part of many ecosystems, changing climate conditions are altering fire regimes and creating new management challenges.
Jasper’s Dark Sky Preserve designation makes it one of the world’s largest accessible dark sky preserves, offering exceptional opportunities for astronomy and connecting visitors with the night sky. This designation also supports nocturnal wildlife by limiting light pollution and preserving natural darkness as an important ecological resource.
Gros Morne National Park
Located on Newfoundland’s west coast, Gros Morne National Park is recognized for its exceptional geological features and coastal landscapes. The park’s UNESCO World Heritage designation acknowledges its significance for understanding plate tectonics and Earth’s geological history. Exposed sections of the Earth’s mantle, visible at the Tablelands, provide rare insights into the planet’s interior structure.
Beyond its geological significance, Gros Morne protects diverse ecosystems including boreal forests, coastal wetlands, and alpine tundra. The park supports populations of woodland caribou, moose, and Arctic hare, while its coastal waters provide habitat for whales and seabirds. The combination of geological and biological diversity makes Gros Morne an exceptional outdoor classroom for understanding Earth systems and ecological processes.
The park’s coastal location exposes it to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and changing storm patterns. Monitoring programs track these changes and inform adaptive management strategies to protect both natural and cultural resources within the park.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve protects a spectacular section of Vancouver Island’s west coast, including ancient temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and important marine ecosystems. The park consists of three distinct units: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail, each offering unique landscapes and recreational opportunities.
The park’s temperate rainforests represent some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, with massive western red cedars and Sitka spruce creating dense canopies. These forests support diverse wildlife and play important roles in carbon storage and water regulation. The coastal areas provide critical habitat for marine mammals, including gray whales that migrate along the coast, and seabirds that nest on offshore rocks and islands.
Pacific Rim’s location on the Pacific coast makes it an important site for understanding ocean processes and coastal ecology. The park’s marine environments support rich biodiversity, from intertidal zones teeming with sea stars and anemones to offshore kelp forests that provide nursery habitat for fish. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these interconnected terrestrial and marine ecosystems while managing visitor impacts in popular areas.
Scientific Research and Monitoring
National parks serve as living laboratories where scientists can study ecosystems with minimal human disturbance. The long-term monitoring programs conducted in parks provide invaluable data on ecosystem trends, species populations, and environmental changes. This research informs not only park management but also broader understanding of ecological processes and climate change impacts.
Parks Canada’s ecological integrity monitoring program represents one of the most comprehensive protected area monitoring systems globally. By tracking indicators across multiple ecosystem components—including native species, landscape patterns, and ecological processes—the program provides early warning of ecosystem changes and guides adaptive management responses.
Citizen science initiatives expand the scope of monitoring and research while engaging visitors in conservation. Programs that invite park visitors to record wildlife observations, participate in species surveys, or contribute to biodiversity inventories generate valuable data while fostering connections between people and nature. These programs demonstrate how public engagement can support both scientific understanding and conservation awareness.
Challenges Facing National Parks
Despite their protected status, Canada’s national parks face numerous challenges that threaten their ecological integrity and long-term sustainability. Climate change represents perhaps the most pervasive threat, altering temperature and precipitation patterns, shifting species distributions, and increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events like wildfires and floods.
Invasive species pose another significant challenge, as non-native plants, animals, and pathogens can disrupt ecosystem processes and outcompete native species. Parks implement various control measures, from manual removal of invasive plants to biological control programs, but managing invasive species requires sustained effort and resources.
Visitor management presents an ongoing challenge, particularly in popular parks where high visitation can degrade trails, disturb wildlife, and strain infrastructure. Balancing public access with resource protection requires innovative approaches, including reservation systems, visitor education programs, and infrastructure improvements designed to concentrate use in less sensitive areas.
Infrastructure and Asset Management
Maintaining park infrastructure, including roads, bridges, visitor facilities, and historic structures, requires substantial ongoing investment. Many parks contain aging infrastructure that needs repair or replacement, while also facing pressure to improve accessibility and accommodate growing visitation. Budget constraints can make it difficult to address all infrastructure needs while maintaining conservation programs.
The challenge is particularly acute for built heritage assets within parks. Historic buildings and structures require specialized conservation approaches that preserve their heritage value while ensuring safety and functionality. Balancing heritage conservation with practical use and accessibility requirements demands expertise and resources.
Education and Visitor Experience
National parks serve as powerful venues for environmental education and fostering connections between people and nature. Interpretive programs, guided walks, and visitor centers help people understand park ecosystems, conservation challenges, and their own role in environmental stewardship. These educational experiences can inspire lifelong conservation ethics and support for protected areas.
Parks Canada has developed diverse programming to reach different audiences and learning styles. From hands-on activities for children to specialized programs for school groups, from cultural demonstrations led by Indigenous interpreters to scientific talks by park researchers, these programs make parks accessible and meaningful to diverse visitors.
Digital technologies are expanding educational reach beyond park boundaries. Virtual tours, online exhibits, and social media engagement allow people who cannot visit parks in person to experience and learn about these protected areas. These digital tools also support classroom education and help build broader public support for conservation.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Ensuring that national parks are accessible to all Canadians, regardless of physical ability, cultural background, or economic circumstances, is an ongoing priority. Parks Canada has implemented various initiatives to improve accessibility, including wheelchair-accessible trails, adaptive recreation equipment, and programs designed for visitors with different abilities.
Cultural accessibility is equally important. Programs that reflect diverse cultural perspectives, interpretation in multiple languages, and partnerships with cultural communities help ensure that all Canadians see themselves reflected in national parks and feel welcome in these spaces. The growing emphasis on Indigenous perspectives and stories enriches the visitor experience while supporting reconciliation.
Economic Benefits and Sustainable Tourism
National parks generate significant economic benefits for gateway communities and regions through tourism spending. Visitors purchase accommodations, meals, supplies, and services, supporting local businesses and employment. This economic activity can be particularly important in rural and remote areas where economic opportunities may be limited.
Sustainable tourism approaches aim to maximize economic benefits while minimizing environmental and social impacts. This includes encouraging longer stays that distribute economic benefits more widely, supporting local and Indigenous businesses, and promoting low-impact activities that align with conservation objectives. When managed well, park tourism can create economic incentives for conservation while providing meaningful experiences for visitors.
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated both the resilience and vulnerability of park-based tourism. While visitation declined during lockdowns, parks also saw surges in domestic visitation as people sought outdoor recreation close to home. This experience highlighted the importance of parks for public health and well-being while also revealing capacity constraints and management challenges associated with rapid visitation increases.
International Significance and Cooperation
Canada’s national parks contribute to international conservation efforts and demonstrate global leadership in protected area management. Several Canadian parks have received UNESCO World Heritage designation, recognizing their outstanding universal value and importance to all humanity. These designations bring international attention and support while also creating responsibilities for maintaining the values that warranted recognition.
Parks Canada participates in international networks and knowledge-sharing initiatives that advance protected area management globally. By sharing expertise in areas like ecological integrity monitoring, Indigenous co-management, and climate change adaptation, Canada contributes to improving conservation outcomes worldwide. Similarly, learning from international partners helps Parks Canada adopt best practices and innovative approaches developed elsewhere.
Transboundary conservation initiatives, such as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park shared with the United States, demonstrate how protected areas can transcend political boundaries to protect ecosystems and promote international cooperation. These partnerships recognize that ecosystems and wildlife populations often span borders, requiring coordinated management approaches.
Future Directions and Opportunities
Throughout this past year, Parks Canada continued to act as a global leader in natural and cultural conservation and tourism while advancing our government’s ambitious goal to protect 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030. Achieving this target will require establishing new protected areas, improving management of existing parks, and developing innovative conservation approaches that engage diverse partners.
The expansion of the national urban parks program offers opportunities to bring conservation and nature access to urban populations. By protecting natural areas within or near cities, these parks can provide ecological benefits, recreational opportunities, and environmental education to millions of Canadians who might not regularly visit remote wilderness parks. Urban parks also offer unique opportunities for Indigenous cultural expression and stewardship in urban contexts.
Advancing reconciliation through shared stewardship and co-management represents both a moral imperative and an opportunity to improve conservation outcomes. Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, informed by traditional knowledge and values, can offer innovative approaches to ecosystem management while supporting Indigenous rights and cultural continuity. The growing number of co-managed protected areas demonstrates the potential of these partnerships.
Technology and Innovation
Emerging technologies offer new tools for park management and visitor engagement. Remote sensing and satellite imagery enable monitoring of large areas and detection of changes like vegetation shifts or wildlife movements. Automated cameras and acoustic sensors provide data on wildlife populations and behavior with minimal disturbance. Genetic analysis helps understand population connectivity and guide conservation breeding programs.
Digital technologies also transform visitor experiences and education. Mobile apps provide trail information, interpretive content, and safety alerts. Virtual and augmented reality can recreate historical scenes or visualize ecological processes. Social media enables parks to reach broad audiences and engage people in conservation conversations. These technologies must be implemented thoughtfully to enhance rather than detract from the park experience and conservation objectives.
The Role of Public Support
Approximately 92% of Canadians supported Parks Canada’s mandate to protect and present natural and cultural heritage during this fiscal year, consistent with support levels recorded in 2022 and 2023. This strong public support provides a foundation for conservation efforts and demonstrates that Canadians value their national parks and the protection they provide.
Maintaining and building on this support requires ongoing engagement and communication. When people understand the ecological, cultural, and economic values that parks protect, and when they have opportunities to experience these places personally, they become advocates for conservation. Parks Canada’s outreach efforts, from school programs to social media campaigns, help build this understanding and support.
Volunteer programs and citizen science initiatives provide hands-on opportunities for public involvement in park conservation. Whether removing invasive species, monitoring wildlife, or maintaining trails, volunteers contribute directly to park management while developing personal connections to these places. These experiences often inspire deeper engagement with conservation and environmental stewardship.
Conclusion: A Legacy for Future Generations
Canada’s national parks represent a remarkable achievement in conservation and a precious legacy for future generations. These protected areas safeguard biodiversity, protect ecosystem services, provide opportunities for recreation and education, and contribute to climate change mitigation. They embody Canadian values of environmental stewardship and serve as symbols of national identity.
The challenges facing national parks—from climate change to invasive species to visitor management—require sustained commitment and adaptive approaches. Success depends on adequate funding, scientific research, Indigenous partnerships, public engagement, and political will. The ambitious targets for expanding protected area coverage and improving ecological integrity demonstrate Canada’s commitment to conservation leadership.
As Canada works toward protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030, national parks will play a central role in achieving this goal. New parks, improved management of existing protected areas, and innovative approaches like ecological corridors and urban parks will all contribute. Throughout this work, partnerships with Indigenous peoples, based on respect for rights and traditional knowledge, will be essential.
The value of national parks extends far beyond their boundaries. They protect source watersheds that supply clean water, preserve genetic diversity that may prove crucial for adaptation to changing conditions, and provide reference areas for understanding ecosystem processes. They offer spaces for spiritual renewal, physical recreation, and connection with the natural world. They remind us of our responsibility to protect the Earth’s biodiversity and natural beauty for those who will come after us.
For more information about visiting Canada’s national parks or supporting conservation efforts, visit the official Parks Canada website. To learn more about global biodiversity conservation efforts, explore the Convention on Biological Diversity. Those interested in supporting conservation can also visit the Nature Conservancy of Canada to learn about additional protected area initiatives across the country.
Canada’s national parks stand as testament to the vision of those who recognized the importance of protecting natural landscapes for future generations. As we face unprecedented environmental challenges, these protected areas offer hope and demonstrate what can be achieved through commitment to conservation. By supporting and visiting national parks, Canadians participate in this ongoing legacy of environmental stewardship and ensure that these remarkable places endure for generations to come.