Widely Enjoyed but Inadequately Valued: Understanding the Economic, Environmental, and Health Benefits of Canada’s Protected and Conserved Areas

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), February 2026

The report explores the benefits of protected and conserved areas in Canada through a number of lenses, including traditional economic indicators such as GDP and employment; the value of carbon sequestration and ecosystem services; and the health and wellbeing impacts of protected and conserved areas.  For example, the report finds that in the 2023–2024 fiscal year, protected and conserved areas contributed an impressive $10.9B to Canada’s GDP, created 150,000 jobs, provided $6.6B in labour income, and generated $1.4B in tax revenue from visitors. It also includes a series of case studies to help illustrate how these impacts translate on the ground in places like Quebec, British Columbia and Newfoundland.