Conservation lands

The primary purpose of the Conservation Lands Program is to conserve and manage important habitat for the benefit of regionally or internationally significant fish and wildlife species.

This includes habitat that is vital for:

• Sensitive, vulnerable or at-risk species
• Critical species life-cycle phases such as spawning, rearing, nesting or winter feeding
• Species migration routes or other movement corridors
• Supporting unusually high species productivity or diversity

Conservation lands not only provide habitat for fish and wildlife species but they also provide a range of opportunities for public access, including day hiking, hunting and fishing, wildlife viewing, scientific research and education and traditional activities of First Nations.

Conservation lands comprise an important part of the protected lands and waters in the province. Some conservation lands, for example, provide important buffer zones and corridors between protected areas that enable movement of species during seasonal migrations or in response to external factors like climate change.

Types of conservation lands

Various legal tools and agreements are used to acquire or secure conservation lands. The approach to conservation can be separated into the following two categories: Administered and Non-Administered.

Administered conservation lands

These are lands over which legal administration and management authority have been acquired. This can happen by:

1. Wildlife Management Area designation under section 4 of the Wildlife Act. Learn more about Wildlife Management Areas
2. Fee simple acquisition of land through direct purchase, land exchange, or donation of private land
3. Securement of privately owned land that is leased to the B.C. government, usually for a long-term duration (99 years)
4. Crown Transfer of Administration under section 106 of the Land Act, or similar legal mechanism

Non-administered conservation lands

These are lands over which a recorded interest has been noted for fish and wildlife, but not administration and management authority.

Most of these were established through Land Act tools that either limit certain uses or tenures for a set period or require notifying the interest holder before any proposed land use changes.

These can include:

1. Land Act section 15 Order-in-Council reserve (OIC reserve)
2. Land Act section 16 Temporary Withdrawal (or Map Reserve)
3. Land Act section 17 Conditional Withdrawal (or Designated Use Area)

As of 2026, there were approximately 277,000 hectares of Wildlife Management Areas and other administered conservation lands across British Columbia. Non-administered conservation lands comprise another 637,000 hectares. Habitat enhancement projects with Ducks Unlimited Canada outside those lands cover an additional 8,300 hectares. 

Importance of partnerships

Partnerships with non-governmental organizations, various levels of government, or others involved in securing and managing land for conservation purposes play an important role in the Conservation Lands Program. Some of the B.C. government's conservation land partners include:

• Ducks Unlimited Canada
• The Nature Trust of British Columbia
• Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
• Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Canadian Wildlife Service
• First Nations and other federal, provincial and local government agencies
• Other non-governmental organizations and industry

Many of these long-standing partnerships have been formalized in regional, provincial or international multi-party initiatives focused on acquiring and managing conservation lands. Past and present initiatives with partners include:

• Conservation Lands Partner Program
• West Coast Conservation Land Management Program
• South Coast Conservation Land Management Program
• Kootenay Conservation Program
• South Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Program
• Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture
• Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture

Conservation lands staff are also involved in specialized habitat compensation initiatives designed to help offset the impacts of major development projects, such as the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program with BC Hydro and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 

Management emphasis

The main goal of the Conservation Lands Program is to maintain fish and wildlife habitat values for the long term. A management plan is usually created for each site and is done in consultation with First Nations, key conservation partners, stakeholders and the public. Specific uses or activities, not related to conservation, may sometimes be allowed if they are compatible with the management plan, or with pre-existing rights such as a utility right of way. Written consent from the ministry’s appropriate regional manager under the Wildlife Act is generally required for any new use of land or resources. Some uses can be limited by legal agreements, such as leases, covenants, management agreements or approved strategic plans.