Protected natural areas helped generate $11-billion in GDP, new research shows

Protected natural areas helped generate $11-billion in GDP, new research shows

Government yet to announce new plan for nature strategy as federal funding for projects set to expire at end of March

Canada’s Protected Areas Generated $10.9 Billion in GDP, CPAWS Study Finds

OTTAWA, Ontario, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New peer-reviewed research released today by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is reframing how Canadians understand the value of nature, not only as something to protect, but as a public…

Can nature benefit Canada's economy? New report says parks contribute billions in taxes, wages

The new look at Canada’s conservation economy comes amid federal cuts to departments like Environment, Climate Change and Nature and the Parks Canada agency, while other important conservation programs face funding uncertainty.

$10.9 Billion: Putting a price on the value of Canadian nature

New peer-reviewed resarch released today by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is reframing how Canadians understand the value of nature—not only as something to protect—but as a public asset that could be one of the country’s strongest long-term investments. The white paper finds that in 2023–24, every $1 spent by governments and non-profits in protected and conserved areas (PCAs) generated $3.62 in visitor spending. That visitor…