Statement on protected natural areas

Press Release

February 5, 2026

FREDERICTON – The following statement was issued by Natural Resources Minister John Herron:

New Brunswick’s conservation lands are part of the natural systems that sustain our communities, from forests and rivers to the coastlines that shape our province and our way of life. When land is designated in New Brunswick as a protected natural area or conserved through the Nature Legacy Initiative, it is done deliberately, with care, and with a responsibility that does not expire.

Our commitment to increase protected land to 15 per cent will be honoured the right way: by adding new lands, not by revisiting or weakening existing protections. Conservation in this province is about the long term and staying true to the commitments we make.

We will achieve our target by identifying and protecting new, low-conflict Crown lands, including drinking-water watersheds, wetlands and vital coastal ecosystems. This work is underway and will be informed by science, guided by Indigenous consultation, and advanced through early and respectful collaboration with communities and stakeholders.

Protecting New Brunswick’s land is about responsible stewardship today and thoughtful planning for future generations.

Media Contact(s)

Nick Brown, communications, Department of Natural Resources, nick.brown@gnb.ca.

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