Canada’s commitment to conserving 30 percent of its lands and oceans by 2030 is an incredibly ambitious objective that involves immense political and strategic efforts. Despite initiatives by federal, provincial, and territorial authorities, this target remains distant. This research demonstrates that applying ecosystem principles, such as ecological integrity, connectivity, reconciliation, ecosystem-based approaches, adaptive management, and ecosystem services (ES), can contribute to new frameworks that support the current objectives of protected area (PA) conservation policy. To define these principles, I conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders experienced in PA management. This evidence was complemented with archival and policy analysis of government documents. In order to demonstrate how the ecosystem principles can be used to improve decision-making, I conducted ecosystem, land cover type, and Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) zone mapping within Wells Gray Provincial Park. This mapping was linked using GIS tools to implement an ecosystem-based approach and support the identification of ecosystems as key decision-making factors. Finally, the BEC zones were modelled against climate change scenarios to inform the interpretation of their potential impact on ecosystems. This analysis can be used to initiate a strategic thinking model to facilitate dialogue and collaborative planning with stakeholders.
