Natural Areas

The Policy, Planning and Natural Areas Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change, is responsible for administration and management of Newfoundland and Labrador’s wilderness and ecological reserves, provincial protected area network planning, and our Canadian Heritage Rivers Program. Learn more about the special places we protect!

 

Wilderness and Ecological Reserves

Wilderness and Ecological Reserves
Raucous seabird colonies, globally significant fossils, rare plants, herds of caribou, diverse ecosystems – all of these and more are protected in wilderness and ecological reserves.

Discover more about our special places.

A Home For Nature: Protected Area Network Planning

Facheaux Bay
Learn more about protected areas planning to create a comprehensive network of protected areas for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Find out more about protected areas planning.

Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC)

Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council logo

In Newfoundland and Labrador, ecological reserves are established through a local public involvement process led by WERAC. WERAC is a volunteer advisory council that is appointed by government to advise on wilderness and ecological reserves.

Click to learn more!

Canadian Heritage Rivers

Heritage Rivers
Want wilderness canoeing like you’ve never experienced it before? That’s what you’ll find on the Main and the Bay du Nord Rivers – Newfoundland and Labrador’s Canadian Heritage Rivers.

Find out more about our river experiences.

GIS Data

Facheaux Bay
Download GIS data for existing and proposed protected areas in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Click here to view the different types of available data.