Already gleaning much praise, the report, entitled: Ontario’s Wealth, Canada’s Future: Appreciating the Value of the Greenbelt’s Eco-Services, has pronounced that Ontario’s Greenbelt contributes $2.6 billion worth of non-market ecological services to the province each year. Wetlands are reported to be worth an estimated $1.3 billion per year ($14,153/hectare) because of their high value for water regulation, water filtration, flood control, waste treatment, recreation, and as wildlife habitat. Forests provide key services worth $989 million each year because of their importance for water filtration services, carbon storage services, habitat for pollinators, wildlife, and recreation. This valuing of the ecosystem services provided by the Greenbelt’s “natural capital” is an unparalleled and much-needed assessment of one of Canada’s most unique natural environments. Covering more than 1.8 million acres, the Greenbelt was established to safeguard key environmentally sensitive land, watersheds and farmlands that provide essential ecosystem services. This protected region includes green space, farmland, communities, forests, wetlands, and watersheds, including habitat for more than one-third of Ontario’s species at risk.
Southern Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe includes the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, which is the most densely populated area in the country, and arguably the fastest growing region in North America. As a result, any strategy for managing growth demands a nuanced understanding of the ecological services provided by the region too often taken for granted; such as water filtration, flood control, climate stabilization (i.e. carbon storage), waste treatment, wildlife habitat, and clean air. For David Suzuki, the report confirms that decision-makers must recognize the importance of protecting our greenspaces to not only protect the country’s overall health but its economy as well. The report authors have quantified the value of ecosystem services with rigorous analysis, concluding that it is not only wisest but less expensive to preserve the natural environment and the benefits it provide us than to disturb it, calling for greater conservation to be put in place. While critics could argue that placing a value on nature undermines the incalculable benefit and relationship humans have with the environment, assessments provided by this type of report illuminates the potential costs of human impact should natural capital be depleted.
The full report, Ontario’s Wealth, Canada’s Future, can be downloaded at
www.davidsuzuki.org/publications
and at
www.ourgreenbelt.ca
Amanda Rappak for greenlivingonline.com
Green Living Network
