Provincial Protected Areas
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador establishes and manages six types of protected areas in the province. Each type is designed to fulfill different conservation and recreation purposes.
In the Department of Environment and Conservation, the Parks and Natural Areas Division is responsible for:
- Wilderness reserves
- Large protected areas (greater than 1,000 km2) that are designed to protect significant natural features and landscapes, and to provide wilderness settings for low-impact outdoor recreation. Wilderness reserves also serve as study areas for researchers, teachers, and students. There are two wilderness reserves in the province.
- Ecological reserves
Protected areas of less than 1,000 km2—smaller than wilderness reserves—that are created for two main purposes:
- to protect representative examples of ecosystems or ecoregions
- to protect unique, rare, or endangered plants, animals, or other elements of our natural heritage. In this province, the reserves in this category are divided into three general types: botanical, fossil, and seabird ecological reserves.
There are 16 ecological reserves in the province.
- Provincial parks
- Provincial parks vary in size and are set in a variety of environments across the province—from beaches to woods, riversides, and hilltops. They are places where residents and tourists come to celebrate, discover, explore, understand, and appreciate the province's natural heritage. Parks are used mainly for camping and outdoor recreation, but they also provide protection for the natural features and species within their borders. There are 31 provincial parks in the province.
See a map (pdf) or a list of all the parks and reserves that fall under the Parks and Natural Areas Division's mandate.
The Wildlife Division, also a section of the Department of Environment and Conservation, is responsible for:
- Wildlife reserves
- These reserves are created specifically for the protection of particular species of wildlife. Using the Wild Life Act and with the approval of Lieutenant-Governor in Council, the Minister of Environment and Conservation draws up regulations that designate areas as Wildlife reserves. Permitted activities vary depending on the species being protected. There are three Wildlife Reserves in the province: the Middle Ridge Wildlife Reserve, Big Barasway Wildlife Reserve, and Little Grand Lake Wildlife Reserve.
Learn more about Wildlife reserves
The Lands Branch, also a section of the Department of Environment and Conservation, is responsible for Crown reserves and special management areas. These areas are only true "protected areas" if their primary purpose is the conservation of biodiversity.
- Crown reserves
- Crown reserves are normally established to set aside specific areas of Crown land that are of interest to Government—but the reasons may vary widely. These reserves are created under Section 8 of the Lands Act; each one has its purpose and duration specified in the Order. Creating Crown reserves larger than 100 hectares requires the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. Glover Island Public Reserve is the only Crown reserve in the province that is considered a protected area.
- Special management areas
- Special management areas are usually—but not always—established on behalf of government departments that do not have land-use control legislation. They are established under Section 57 of the Lands Act, and require the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. The Lands Act allows departments other than Environment and Conservation to be vested with the administration of the special management area, and enables the implementation of regulations controlling activities, land use, land disposition and more within the designated area. One special management area in the province is considered a protected area: Torngat Mountains Special Management Area.
Learn more about the Wildlife Act and Lands Act.
