Ecological Reserves are part of a network of Designated Areas. The goal of the network is to create and maintain a comprehensive, dynamic and accessible data set (digital map) that accurately defines land areas in Saskatchewan that have various levelUnique ecological reserves that are designed to protect representative areas of natural landscapes and to conserve biological diversity.

The __shíshálh Nation__ contains legally defined areas of land within the Province of British Columbia over which the shíshálh Nation exercises self-government, including the administration of resources and services available to its members, as described in the shíshálh Nation Self-Government Act of 1986. This spatial layer contains multipart features. Note that the name of the spatial layer is outdated; after the notification of retirement of the layer has been circulated the dataset will be recreated with the correct name. The source data for the geometry of the parcels was the federal "GeoBase - Aboriginal Lands" dataset, available under OGL - Canada. Parcels were adjusted to match provincial base mapping features, following the metes and bounds descriptions in the Letters Patent. A polygon dataset that includes all of the administrative areas currently in the __Administrative Boundaries Management System (ABMS)__ is available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc). A complimentary point dataset that defines the administrative areas is also available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc-boundary-locations). The shíshálh Nation Government District Enabling Act, [RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 416 is available [here.](http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96416_01) Other individual datasets are available from the following records: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/province-of-british-columbia-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/municipalities-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/regional-districts-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/electoral-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/islands-trust-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/local-trust-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc

Legally defined __Local Trust Area__ polygons were drawn from metes and bounds descriptions as written in Letters Patent for the Local Trust Areas in the province of British Columbia. A polygon dataset that includes all of the administrative areas currently in the __Administrative Boundaries Management System (ABMS)__ is available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc). A complimentary point dataset that defines the administrative areas is also available available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc-boundary-locations). Other individual datasets are available from the following records: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/islands-trust-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/municipalities-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/regional-districts-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/electoral-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/province-of-british-columbia-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc

A legally defined __Islands Trust__ polygon was drawn from metes and bounds descriptions as written in Letters Patent for the Islands Trust in the province of British Columbia. A polygon dataset that includes all of the administrative areas currently in the __Administrative Boundaries Management System (ABMS)__ is available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc). A complimentary point dataset that defines the administrative areas is also available available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc-boundary-locations). Other individual datasets are available from the following records: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/local-trust-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/municipalities-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/regional-districts-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/electoral-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/province-of-british-columbia-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc

The __Counties of British Columbia__ contains areas of land within the Province of British Columbia representing legally defined administrative areas described in the County Boundary Act. The purpose of this division is for the administration of justice. The counties were delineated using provincial base mapping features, following the metes and bounds descriptions in the Letters Patent. A polygon dataset that includes all of the administrative areas currently in the __Administrative Boundaries Management System (ABMS)__ is available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc). A complimentary point dataset that defines the administrative areas is also available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc-boundary-locations). The Legal document which divides the province of British Columbia into counties is available [here](http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96075_01). Other individual datasets are available from the following records: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/province-of-british-columbia-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/municipalities-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/regional-districts-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/electoral-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/islands-trust-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/local-trust-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/sh-sh-lh-nation-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc

Specific ecological planning areas of the revised land use and development plan of the City of Laval**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

The RFI identifies areas of land and water encircling a recreation feature or combination of features that support, or have the potential to support, one or more recreation activities. These areas are rated for their significance or importance to recreation and for their sensitivity to alteration

Legally defined __Electoral Area__ polygons were drawn from metes and bounds descriptions as written in Letters Patent for Regional District Electoral Areas in the province of British Columbia. In the event of a discrepancy in the data, the metes and bounds description will prevail. Although the boundaries were drawn based on the legal metes and bounds descriptions, they may differ from how regional districts and their member municipalities and electoral areas currently view and/or manage their boundaries. Where discrepancies are noted, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (the custodian) enters into discussion with the local governments whose boundaries are affected. In order to effect a change to the boundary, Cabinet approval is required. This is done through an Order in Council (OIC). While discrepancies to administrative boundaries are being resolved, boundaries may be adjusted on an ongoing basis until the requested changes are completed. The OIC_YEAR and OIC_NUMBER fields indicate the year that the boundary was passed under OIC and its associated number. The AFFECTED_ADMIN_AREA_ABRVN identifies the administrative areas that are affected by the OIC. A polygon dataset that includes all of the administrative areas currently in the __Administrative Boundaries Management System (ABMS)__ is available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc). A complimentary point dataset that defines the administrative areas is also available available [here](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc-boundary-locations). Other individual datasets are available from the following records: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/municipalities-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/regional-districts-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/province-of-british-columbia-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/islands-trust-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/local-trust-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc

Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors was initiated to strengthen the network of protected areas across Canada through the creation of ecological corridors. To achieve this goal, Parks Canada sought out to develop tools for a common approach on the scientific and governance aspects of corridor creation and management. The National Priority Areas for Ecological Corridors (NPAECs) were developed using a scientific framework for national-scale prioritization of where ecological corridors are most urgently needed. Improving or maintaining ecological connectivity in these areas will greatly benefit biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation. The NPAECs were identified based on a methodology that is multivariate, data driven, national in scale, and spatially explicit at a coarse resolution. The Criteria for Ecological Corridors in Canada provide a common approach to ensure ecological corridors are managed and stewarded to maintain or restore effective ecological connectivity, while upholding Indigenous stewardship values. They are derived from the internationally recognized International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Guidelines on Connectivity and adapted to the Canadian context. The NPAECs geographic data layer, the list of datasets used to identify them, the Criteria and their accompanying guidance can be found below. More details and context about both program elements are available on the Program’s webpage (https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/conservation/corridors-ecologiques-ecological-corridors).

Caribou habitat management areas identify zones ("tiers") with similar importance to caribou, potential risks and primary strategies for caribou conservation.These Final Caribou Habitat Management Areas (CHMAs) are based on known woodland caribou use and habitat potential mapping; in addition, levels of both human-caused and wildfire disturbances were also taken into consideration. Tier 1 areas were selected because they include high-moderate caribou habitat potential with high levels of observed caribou use and low levels of human-caused disturbance. Tier 2 areas were selected because they include areas of high-moderate woodland caribou habitat potential with observed use and higher levels of wildfire and human-caused disturbance. Tier 3 areas provide general habitat and maintain habitat connectivity between Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas. These areas are not permanent: they will be updated as habitat conditions, land use and caribou populations change over time. Different strategies have been developed for each Tier based on their stated management objectives and relative importance to and known use by caribou, current habitat condition and potential risks. A two page overview of the SK2 West Woodland Caribou Range Plan and the CHMAs can be viewed here: https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/122354 Find out more about woodland caribou and what the province is doing to manage their habitat and protect their populations: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/environmental-protection-and-sustainability/wildlife-and-conservation/wildlife-species-at-risk/woodland-caribou-program