Will Economic Valuation Of Nature Be Happily Ever After For Canadian Boreal Forest?

For the last two decades, the increased use of fossil energy caused the environmental problems. The evidence of global warming, like drying rivers, extinction of species, melting of glaciers, became more often around the planet. The climate change became a threat to healthy environment and prosperity of humanity and wildlife, and the world community started searching for solution to combat climate change. In 2008 British Columbia introduced carbon tax on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to reduce global warming. Starting from $10 per tonne of CO2, the price was increasing annually till it reached $30 per tonne in 2012. During that period British Columbia was reducing harmful emissions and improving economy comparing to the rest of Canada. However, since the price rise on carbon stopped in 2012, no improving changes in cutting emissions, economy, and overall quality of life have been noticed. In this essay I will persuade that British Columbia should continue gradually increase price on carbon tax to the level where it will significantly cut the use of dirty energy, provide enough investments into the green projects, and support low-income families.

Increasingly more species are becoming at risk of extinction in Canada, and the natural landscapes are consistently being altered by industrial,

55% of Canada’s trade balance in 2006, with a value of 21.8 billion Canadian dollars, was from forest products (Martin, 2012). Canadian government policies are used to pursue social, economic, and environmental goals (Martin, 2012). This includes regional development, job creation, community stability, the conservation of forests, and ecosystem protection (Martin, 2012). While each province has different policies, the overall goals are quite similar. In the late 1980’s there were two changes that led to much greater forest sustainability. An agreement from 1985-1990 named the Canada-British Columbia Forest Resource Development agreement led to a significant increase in funding (Brown, 1997). The funding was used for forest renewal research and reforestation of areas that had previously been improperly stocked (Brown, 1997). In 1987 the responsibility of covering the cost and regenerating the forests after harvest was traded off from the government to the forest industry (Brown, 1997). According to Robert G. Brown, manager of Silviculture Practices at the Forest Practices branch of the BC government, the two changes

The Rim Fire of 2013 ravaged the slopes of the Stanislaus National Forest leaving many areas severely burned and unable to recover. Restoration efforts have been made and 56,000 saplings were planted in 2016 in the most severely burned areas; but the forest still has a long way to recovery. Fires are a naturally occurring hazard in the Stanislaus National Forest, and have contributed to the replenishment, control, and sustainability of the forest; but fires of the Rim Fire's intensity are very rare. The Rim Fire destroyed over 277,314 acres of habitat, harmed many mature trees, and ruined the layers of topsoil, and increased erosion and runoff. The devastation of the Rim Fire would not be have been so intense if it weren’t for past fire

Vancouver has a really big deforestation problem because they need more room and wood to make house for the people that live there. It's not just homes people need furniture and many products made from wood and because of the population increased people have to cut down a lot of forest. With in/around the last 50 years or so the Vancouvers deforestation has been catastrophic. Most of Vancouver Island has been converted from vibrant forests to young tree farms that do not sustain the natural range of species. Lack of lichen growing on old boreal trees is one of the reasons that almost all of Canada's woodland caribou herds are currently predicted to die out before the next century. Because of deforestation the climate in vancouver has change

Canada is very blessed to be rich in many natural resources, such as trees, water, oil and gas. Over the past 20 years Canada has been able to reduce deforestation. The Canadian Forest Service of Natural Resource Canada is working together with the oil and gas industries to find a way to reduce the amount of impact on forest ecosystems, and to increase the recovery of land distributed by mining, oil and gas extraction. The government of Canada is using integrated landscape management (ILM) which has helped them find a way to share areas of land for infrastructure which decreases

The growth and development of Canadian society is closely linked to plants. Canada is a large exporter of grain and forest products among other plant products. The worldwide market for grain in 1998 was valued at 15.1 billion dollars US; the worldwide market for first products in 1998 was 123 billion dollars US. These industries represent billions of dollars and a large percentage of Canada’s economy. In 2013 agriculture generated 106.9 billion dollars, accounting for 6.7% of Canada’s GDP (1).A further 19.8 billion dollars was generated by forestry that same year accounting for 1.25% of Canada’s GDP (2). For Canada to grow economically our agricultural and forestry sectors also must grow. The forest industry is also very important as building

It is so horrible to see all of that timber go to waste. Our society depends on timber a lot and we need so much of it to produce so many useful goods. What would happen if we did not have any timber to make homes or proved some type of shelter? We would be lost and have no where to go. Prescribed burns can prevent that great loss of timber and save a lot of trees. Although one purpose of controlled burns is to curve paths for huge forest fires, they are also used to freshen up the area. If an area of trees is left untreated from prescribed burns, the sands are expected to decline in growth (Mitchell 1). Also, to ensure a healthy forest,

This paper objectively advocates a paradigm shift that incorporates natural capital into mainstream policies, and businesses practices, at all levels. It sheds light on the role and importance of valuing natural capital; reasons why it has not been properly integrated into everyday decision-making process; the risks associated with negligence; and the benefits of integration. A few examples were enlisted to help outline the opportunities that lie within the ecosystem, if only we can implement practices to utilize it sustainably. Individuals, corporations, and governments, must understand and account for their use of natural capital and be aware of the accurate cost of human and economic security.

Climate change has caused parts of the Arctic to melt, exposing a treasure trove of natural resources. It is estimated that about “22 percent of the world’s undiscovered conventional oil and natural gas resources” is located in the North. There is a large market for fossil fuels due to a “mounting worldwide energy demand” (Gall & Marsa para 1). The way our world is currently run, fossil fuels are an important energy provider and and will continue to be a valuable resource in the near future– perhaps even for a while after that. Being able to drill and collect these resources bring in revenue that will stimulate economic growth. Moreover, because the Northwest Passage is open, “tankers and container ships move freely through shipping lanes” transporting these resources all over the world. In addition, it has created many jobs centred around “Wild West-style boom towns in the Arctic Circle” and those areas have “undergone rapid economic and population growth” (Gall & Marsa para 2). The natural resources in the Arctic may be the key that gets Canada ahead of the game when it comes to supporting a modern lifestyle in the

The boreal region incorporates closed-crown conifer vegetation with a distinctive deciduous aspect. The size of the conspicuous conifers is dissimilar considerably in reaction to interactions among topography, climate, fire, soil, pests, and maybe other elements. The Canadian boreal forest is essential to the nation’s inherent environment, culture, economy, and history. Canada looks after and respects its boreal forest in many fashions, incorporating distinguished legally secured zones, supervising the conditions of the forests and performing scientific

“The End of Nature,” by Bill McKibben is a startling book of non-fiction depicting the future in store for the environment and humans. His somber yet hopeful approach allows readers to sense the real intensity of this situation of mass environmental changes whilst remaining expectant of the advancements in the

Ecosystems in our world act as vital and fundamental sections to maintain health, living, well-being and survival of human beings and other creatures (Robert Costanza et al, 1997; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), 2005; TEEB Foundations, 2010; TEEB Synthesis, 2010). They provide different kinds of service, such as production of goods, life support processes, and life-fulfilling conditions (Gretchen C. ,2000). Ecosystem significantly contributes to both economic and non-economic value of our planet, but when compared to market efficiency, it seems to be paid less attention when involved in decision making. In the majority of the ongoing projects that have numerous debates on, it seems common for people put a price tag on ecosystem services and evaluate them by means of commodification. When the immediate or intuitionistic benefits fail to be derived, it is less likely for ecosystems to be protected or reserved. Therefore, the importance of ecosystem services is often poorly appreciated and only to be seen when facing severe problems. People are less likely to come up with solutions to protect the ecosystems of their own will than to make a better trade to exchange ecosystem services for money. Also, it is quite often to fail to define the difference between “valuation” and “privatisation”, considering ecosystem services more of tradable products than a part of nature system. It is often overlooked that the market

Humans have been changing the Western forests' fire system since the settlement by the Europeans and now we are experiencing the consequences of those changes. During the summer of 2002, 6.9 million acres of forests was burnt up in the West (Wildland Fires, 1). This figure is two times the ten year annual average, and it does not look like next summer will be any better (Wildfire Season, 1).

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, Wildfire means “a sweeping and destructive conflagration esp. in a wilderness or a rural area.” Also according to the same dictionary, wilderness means “a tract or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings.” Forest Fires happen when there is a drought because branches and twigs die and dry out creating plenty of fuel for a fire. According to the NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) there are about 105,534 wildfires that occur each year.