Wilderness and Ecological Reserves - Environment and Climate Change

Wilderness and ecological reserves are special places. They protect the province’s natural heritage, and play a key role in our provincial conservation strategy. They are designed to help conserve wilderness, wildlife, and biodiversity for future generations. They also provide outdoor venues for learning, for research, and for enjoyment today.

See a list of our wilderness and ecological reserves. (Download A Guide to our Wilderness and Ecological Reserves, Newfoundland and Labrador (2.7 MB))

Newfoundland and Labrador’s wilderness and ecological reserves protect wide-ranging caribou herds, diverse seabird colonies, globally important fossil sites, and habitat for endangered or threatened plants and animals. Several protected areas also capture representative examples of the province’s natural regions.

Most wilderness and ecological reserves have little infrastructure, or services (Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve and Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve being the exceptions). Some reserves have outfitting and adventure touring operations, and backcountry hiking trails. Others have hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Reserves are managed differently depending on what that particular reserve is trying to protect, such as unique species, habitat or landscapes.

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador designates wilderness and ecological reserves using the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act (WER Act) . Twenty wilderness and ecological reserves have been created in the province since the Act was passed in 1980.

Wilderness and ecological reserves are administered by the Natural Areas Program, Policy, Planning and Natural Areas Division within the Department of Environment, and Climate Change. The Natural Areas staff work cooperatively with the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC), an independent group of government-appointed volunteers from across the province who have a wide variety of backgrounds but share an interest in conservation and an awareness of the importance of protected areas. WERAC‘s mandate is to advise the provincial government on the establishment of new reserves and the management of existing ones.

Vision Statement

In addition to the WER Act and associated regulations, the Natural Areas Program is guided by this vision:

To protect, in an unimpaired condition, large wilderness areas, representative areas of all provincial ecoregions, and areas that contain rare natural phenomena, in order to preserve the diversity and distinctiveness of the Province’s rich natural heritage and to support an ecologically sustainable future for the benefit of present and future generations.

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