Conservation Reserves

Conservation reserves are a relatively new type of protected area. Originally established in 1994 under the Public Lands Act to protect natural heritage features and provide recreation opportunities on public lands, these areas have fewer restrictions on recreational and commercial uses than provincial parks. However, commercial logging, mining, hydro-electric power development and other industrial uses are prohibited.

In 1997, a provincial policy approved the stated goal for conservation reserves, formalized strategies for identifying new conservation reserves, provided that statements of conservation interest or resource management plans should be prepared for each conservation reserve; and laid out policies for dealing with a range of matters, including which activities are allowed to occur and which are prohibited.

Conservation reserves make up about 12% of the protected areas network. In 2006, they were incorporated into legislation in the new Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. Unlike provincial parks, conservation reserves are not formally operated to provide facilities, services or collect fees. They are created primarily for protection, have limited policy direction, utilize basic planning processes that, in some cases, do not require public consultation; and do not currently employ a classification system or zoning. Informal recreation activities are generally allowed to continue, if compatible with protection of natural heritage.

In the Wabakimi area, there are several conservation areas that provide travel corridors between the park and other protected areas. Descriptions of land uses and activities currently permitted in each of these conservation reserves are available in their respective policy reports posted in the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas.

Beyond Wabakimi - Conservation Reserves