2.1 million hectares (5 million acres) in the North and Central coast  - one-third of the region - are now protected from logging in Conservancies, parks and Biodiversity, Mining and Tourism Areas :   

• 115 Conservancies with a total area of 1,360,000 hectares were legislated between 2006 and 2008
• 21 Biodiversity, Mining and Tourism Areas with a total area of 300,000 hectares were legalized in January 2009
• 18 Class ‘A’ parks were previously established with a total area of 443,000 hectares

A map that shows all parks, conservancies and biodiversity areas of the region can be found here.

Together, the protected areas in the Central and North Coast comprise:

• 55 per cent of estuaries
• 42 per cent of wetlands
• 40 per cent of known salmon-bearing streams
• 30 per cent of all habitat for key species such as northern goshawks, marbled murrelets and grizzly bears
• 34 per cent of old growth forest and 39 per cent of mature forest.

On Haida Gwaii, 11 new conservancies were legislated in January 2009, doubling the total protected area on the islands. In other words approximately half a million hectares or half of Haida Gwaii’s area is now protected.

Conservancies differ from other parks because they prioritize the protection of biological diversity and First Nations values related to social, ceremonial and cultural uses. Conservancies allow First Nations to pursue low-impact economic activities that do not undermine ecological values. Commercial logging, mining, and hydroelectric power generation are prohibited in these areas (except local run-of-river projects to service nearby communities).

Biodiversity, Mining and Tourism Areas contribute to the conservation of species by limiting the range of land uses within these zones. Commercial timber harvesting and commercial hydro-electric power projects are prohibited. Other resource activities and land uses, like mining and tourism, are permitted, subject to existing regulations and legislation.

In addition to Conservancies and Biodiversity, Mining and Tourism Areas there are almost 1.3 million hectares designated in three large areas as Grizzly Bear Management Areas. Hunting is prohibited in these areas.