Program directory · Parks Canada

Nature Conservation

Department

Parks Canada

Program code

BGW09 (PCA)

Core responsibility

Protecting and Presenting Canada's Natural and Cultural Heritage

In Departmental Plans

2026-27 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan

What it does

The Nature Conservation Program strengthens Canada's national parks and marine conservation areas by maintaining and enhancing ecological integrity and sustainability, while supporting Indigenous stewardship, climate resilience, and ecosystem services.

The program uses an evidence-based, adaptive management approach that includes systematic ecological monitoring and planning, the implementation of on-the-ground and in-the-water conservation and stewardship activities, and the enforcement of legislation and regulations.

From policy and partnering work, to boots on the ground, dedicated teams in science, GIS, protection, assessment, law enforcement, land management, and monitoring drive this work. Their efforts and specialized training and assets safeguard species at risk, protect ecosystems, and ensure that essential ecosystem services like clean water and air, erosion control, critical carbon storage and climate impact-buffering continue to deliver benefits to the planet, economy and right down to individual health. The returns on this work ripple outward, nurturing well-being, inspiring a deep sense of pride and belonging, and contribute to fueling passionate public support for nature. They also generate powerful economic spin-offs through nature-based tourism and regional job creation.

The program aims to use two-eyed seeing approach that engages Indigenous and scientific knowledge and bolsters relationships with Indigenous partners, including Indigenous guardians, in ways that foster cultural continuity and support Indigenous stewardship practices. The delivery of the program depends on collaboration with other federal departments, provinces, and territories in areas where there are shared authorities.

Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.

History and lineage

First appears in the Departmental Plans in 2026-27. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).

No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.

Significant changes in scope and budget

Success criteria

The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.

Spending and employees: planned against actual

Spending

Employees (FTEs)

Planned spending, plan by plan

Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans

Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.