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Performance Indicator 16: Protected Areas

Where BC Ranks, Provincial Comparison

  Note
BC's ratio increased to 13.8 percent in 2006 with the announcement of land use decisions for the Central Coast and North Coast.

Performance Indicator Sixteen lists the proportion of the land base that is protected from development. Larger protected areas earn better ranks.

In 2003, BC ranked first in Canada for the percentage of the land base protected from industrial activity, at 13.0 percent. Alberta ranked second with 12.3 percent of its land base protected, followed by Ontario at 9.2 percent, Manitoba at 8.5 percent and Nova Scotia at 8.2 percent.

The sixth place rank went to Newfoundland and Labrador with 4.3 percent of their land base protected from industrial activity, followed by Quebec and Saskatchewan at 3.5 percent, New Brunswick at 3.1 percent and Prince Edward Island at 10th rank among the provinces at 2.6 percent.

Biological and Ecological Diversity

Why It's Important
Areas classified as protected are shielded from resource extraction or human activity that results in long term or large-scale impacts on the land's natural character. Such areas are also maintained as a "stock" of the land-base for biodiversity and for aesthetic, heritage, and other preservation values.

British Columbian's natural diversity, both in terms of species and ecosystems, has been a distinct element in the province's unique economic and environmental heritage.

British Columbia's natural surroundings have provided recreational activities for the province's residents and visitors and form the foundation of our active and healthy society.

The province's natural diversity has been the basis of most economic opportunities throughout the province's development, and continues to provide the foundation for numerous resource-based industries including forestry, mining, and tourism and recreation.

Finding a balance between an expanding population, job growth, improving standards of living and stewardship of natural surroundings is an important, but certainly not a simple, task.

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