Wilderness and Ecological Reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador

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Wilderness and Ecological Reserves are special protected areas in the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador .

The basis for the establishment of these protected areas was the passage of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act (WER Act) in 1980. Since then, 18 wilderness and ecological reserves have been designated in the province. The purpose of these protected areas is to preserve the natural heritage of the province. These protected areas play a key role in this. In addition, these areas offer various opportunities for science, teaching and knowledge transfer as well as for those looking for relaxation.

The areas serve to protect and preserve the caribou herds, various sea bird colonies, fossil sites of global importance and the habitat of endangered plant and animal species. The protected areas are located in representative areas of the various natural regions of the province.

With the exception of three reserves (Cape St. Mary's, Mistaken Point and Witless Bay) the protected areas have almost no infrastructure.

The WER Act forms the legal basis for the protected areas. This law allows the establishment of "provisional" protected areas which, after careful consideration, can later be elevated to fully-fledged protected areas. Both scientific research and public participation are taken into account.

The Wilderness and Ecological Reserves are managed by the Natural Areas Program of the Land Management Division within the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources . This is coordinated with the Wilderness and Ecological Reserve Advisory Council (WERAC) , an independent group of experts. There is also cooperation with other nature conservation associations such as the Seabird Ecological Reserves Advisory Committee (SERAC) .

There are two Wilderness Reserves :


There are also 18 Ecological Reserves , one of which has the status of a Provisional Ecological Reserve (as of 2018).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Wilderness and Ecological Reserves . Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Fisheries and Land Resources. Retrieved November 4, 2018.