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Natural Areas
Canada is home to a great diversity of natural areas, which are valued by Canadians for aesthetic, economic, and ecological reasons. This section looks at the nature and importance of natural areas in our country.
Q3.92
What do we mean by 'natural areas'? 'Natural areas' is a
general term used to refer to a wide range of ecosystems that have not been
radically transformed by humans. It would thus include everything from remote
wilderness to a local wetland, but not a wheat field or an industrial park. In
the latter two cases the original ecosystem has been transformed by human action
to such an extent as to be unrecognizable; the composition of species, the food
web, and other ecological processes have all been substantially altered.
Q3.93
What kind of natural areas are there in Canada? In Canada,
there are many different natural areas including grassland prairie, coniferous
and mixed deciduous forests, northern tundra, wetlands, and flowing and stagnant
waterways of all sizes.
Q3.94
Why are different natural areas important?
Q3.95
Why are wetlands important? Although wetlands used to be seen
as unproductive, we have come to understand that they are a very important type
of ecosystem. In fact, wetlands are one of the key life-support systems of our
planet. In addition to providing habitat for many endangered species of animals
and plants, they have other important ecological functions, including:
Water recharge. Wetlands provide natural purification and storage of
freshwater for humans and
wildlife.
Shoreline protection. Wetlands protect shorelines from wave action and
erosion.
Flood reduction and control. Through water storage and retention wetlands
help control flooding.
Carbon 'sinks'. Wetland vegetation stores carbon.
Oxygen production. Wetland vegetation produces oxygen.
Pollutant 'sinks'. Wetlands are natural sinks for pollutants such as
sulphur and heavy metals.
Nutrient source. Wetlands provide nutrients for connected waters.
Q3.96
Are Canada's natural spaces intact? No. For example, over 90%
of the original tallgrass prairie, 68% of Ontario wetlands, 90% of British
Columbia's old-growth forest, and 65% of Atlantic coastal marshes are gone.
Q3.97
What has caused this transformation of natural spaces?
Several different aspects of our society have been responsible for the
transformation of our natural spaces. Agriculture, by converting woodland and
prairie into intensively managed farmland, has radically altered many natural
spaces. Similarly, the forestry industry has had a significant effect upon
certain forest ecosystems. Finally, urbanization and industrialization have
together occupied or polluted large areas in the southern regions of the
country.
Wildlife
The health of other species of life has been an important ethical and economic concern for humans for many years. This section looks at the nature and importance of wildlife, and some of the threats to its existence today.
Q3.98
What is wildlife? Wildlife is the term used to refer to all
of the organisms that have not been domesticated for human use or companionship.
It includes invertebrate animal species (those lacking backbones), such as
molluscs and arthropods, as well as vertebrate species (those with backbones),
such as mammals, birds, and reptiles. It also includes plants.
Q3.99
How are natural areas and wildlife related? Every animal and
plant species exists within a specific set of environmental conditions: climate,
food availability, shelter, etc. This set constitutes the species' 'home' or
habitat. Without the particular conditions that a species' habitat affords, it
cannot exist. These conditions may be more or less broad. The habitat of humans
and cockroaches, for example, covers an extremely wide range of ecological
regions, due to their great adaptability. The requirements of other species,
however, are much narrower.
Q3.100
How many species are there in Canada? Canada is home to
nearly 1,950 species of vertebrate animals, an estimated 95,000 invertebrate
species, and about 4,200 known species of plants.
Q3.101
Why is wildlife important? Wildlife has great ecological,
social, and economic importance.
Q3.102
Are species at risk in Canada? Yes. As of 1993, there were
238 species, subspecies, or local populations of Canadian organisms listed as
either extinct (9), extirpated (no longer found in Canada - 11), endangered
(53), threatened (53), or vulnerable (112). However, only a few of the total
number of species in Canada have been assessed at this time; thus, these 238
designations do not adequately represent the current situation.
û focus
The market value of recreational wildlife resources is
enormous. In 1987, Canadians spent $9.4 billion on hunting, angling, trips to
observe wildlife, and other wildlife-related activities. This resulted in $4.5
billion in taxes for governments, $11.5 billion in GDP, and it sustained jobs
for roughly 284,000 people.
Q3.103
What is biodiversity? Literally, the word 'biodiversity'
means variety of life. There are millions of different species of plants,
animals, and micro-organisms on our planet. This is referred to as 'species
diversity'. There is also biodiversity within single species. Dogs, for example,
come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and temperaments. This is referred to
as 'genetic diversity' since it depends upon the variety of genetic material
present in a single species. Another form of biodiversity is 'ecosystem
diversity'. Meadows, forests, and wetlands are examples of different types of
ecosystems. They are the natural neighbourhoods of organisms; they provide
different species with homes, food, and access to other members of their own
species. In a broader sense, the variety of human cultures on Earth is also a
type of biodiversity. Language, religious belief, music, and many other aspects
of human life vary greatly from one culture to another.
Q3.104
Are some areas home to more biodiversity than others? Yes.
Geographical areas that are nearer to the Equator generally have higher levels
of biodiversity. the greatest levels of biodiversity are thus found in the
tropics, particularly in the tropical rain forests and coral reefs.
Q3.105
Why is biodiversity important? The incredible variety of
life on our planet is the product of millions of years of evolution. This makes
life on our planet far richer and healthier than it would otherwise be. The
living organisms of the Earth make up an intricate living system: since no
species exists in isolation, the loss of any one species will disrupt many
others. Biodiversity is a source of strength not just for us but for our world
as a whole.
Diseases, for example, often strike certain species but not others. A forest that contains a variety of species rather than just one or two will be stronger and more stable. Genetic diversity is important too. Genetic material contains the instructions for producing the various characteristics and capabilities of living things; greater variety of genes makes it easier for species to adapt to new or changed environments. Different ecosystems perform different functions, all of which are important, and different cultures provide humans with a variety of different ethical and spiritual visions, as well as different types of knowledge about different aspects of the world.
Q3.106
Is biodiversity threatened today? There is much debate today
over the issue of biodiversity. Some describe the current situation as a severe
crisis, whereas others take a more optimistic view. However, the disagreements
between scientists are primarily over the extent of the problem, not over
whether or not a problem exists.
Q3.107
What two things are necessary for wildlife to survive? In
order to thrive, wildlife needs two things: habitat a place (or places) to live
that meets all its needs for space, food, shelter, and reproduction and
protection from the harmful effects of human activity.
Q3.108
What human activities have an impact on wildlife? Some
wildlife species have become endangered or extinct through over-harvesting.
Currently, however, habitat destruction constitutes a greater threat to wildlife
than overhunting. This destruction may occur by the removal of living space
(quantity of habitat) or by its profound alteration (quality of habitat).
Q3.109
What human activities remove wildlife habitat? The on-going
extension of human activities into wilderness areas is reducing the quantity and
variety of our natural areas.
Q3.110
What human activities alter wildlife habitat? Near or far
from wilderness, human activity can greatly affect wildlife habitat.
Action Step
Actions that contribute to virtually all other
environmental goals also contribute to the preservation of natural areas and
wildlife. Some are obvious; keeping toxics out of the environment, for example,
benefits wildlife directly as much as it does humans. Some are less direct;
reducing waste by practising the four R's reduce, re-use, recycle, recover for
example, lessens the need for habitat-destroying landfill.
However, to ensure the protection of our wildlife and natural areas what is also needed is a strong and assertive public interest in their survival. All Canadians should consider the following starting points:
Did you know?
As many as 38 of 83 species of reptiles and
amphibians in Canada may be found to be at risk when their status is eventually
examined. Over 700 additional plant species are likely to be designated as
endangered or threatened once the necessary evaluations have been completed.
Cultural Heritage
Most of us are not used to thinking about heritage and the environment at the same time. Yet they are closely connected. This section looks at the relationship between our cultural heritage and our place in the biosphere.
Q3.111
What do we mean by 'heritage'? Literally, 'heritage' is that
which is inherited from the past. We tend to think of our heritage as consisting
of old buildings and artifacts. Yet ideas, traditions and customs are also part
of our heritage. So too is the natural environment.
More specifically, heritage is that which gives a community its identity. Our sense of who we are as a country where we come from, what we value, what we believe in has been shaped by many forces; our heritage is all that has gone to make up this sense of nationhood. It is what connects citizens of the past, present, and future as members of one community.
Q3.112
What does our heritage have to do with the environment? Our
environment is that which surrounds us. This means that it includes our built
environment and the culture in which we live, as well as 'nature'. Our heritage,
in turn, includes more than just cultural artifacts; we inherit the land as well
as the things we have built on it.
A very important part of the Canadian identity, for example, has to do with the size and beauty of our land. From the coasts of Newfoundland to the forests of Vancouver Island, the environment has an important place in the Canadian psyche. It is a crucial part of the heritage from which we expect future generations of Canadians to benefit. Caring for our heritage means, in part, caring for our natural as well as our cultural environment.
Since the rest of the primer deals with natural heritage, this section will focus upon our cultural heritage.
Q3.113
Is our cultural heritage threatened? Yes. Tangible aspects
of our cultural heritage such as landscapes and buildings are at risk from
vandalism, pollution, neglect, and urban development. Fundamentally, however,
cultural heritage is threatened by the rapid pace of change which is typical of
our time. Our national identity is anchored in the land, the communities we have
built, and the traditions that we have developed. These change over time, as
does the nation itself. Very rapid change, however, can pose a problem. In many
ways economically, technologically, geographically our world is a rapidly
changing one, and our heritage is threatened by these processes of change.
Historic buildings are demolished for new urban development and eroded by
pollution, and advances in telecommunications technology threaten to globalize
the control of and input into our cultural industries. Yet change has also
brought many benefits, such as economic prosperity, improved health, and
universal access to education. The challenge is to maintain these gains without
sacrificing the links to our history and culture that some forms of growth can
endanger.
Q3.114
What is heritage conservation, and why is it important?
Heritage conservation consists of the identification and preservation of
tangible aspects of our cultural heritage: places and things which are of
special historic and symbolic significance. Its goal is to allow us to stay in
touch with our history and with each other: to help us understand ourselves, our
fellow citizens, and the country to which we belong. If we are not to lose our
connection to our past, and the link between present and future generations of
citizens, we must preserve our heritage.
Q3.115
Does conserving heritage mean trying to turn back the clock?
No. Heritage conservation is about managing change, not stopping it. Change is
not only inevitable, it is natural. All things grow and develop. Some forms of
growth, however, are detrimental to the quality of life. Rapid, massive, and
irreversible change threatens to unhinge us from our past and from ourselves.
The purpose of heritage conservation is to ensure and support our link to the
history of our communities. It's about keeping alive valuable aspects of our
past by preserving some of its more tangible aspects.
Q3.116
Can heritage conservation help the environment? Yes. One
aspect of heritage conservation involves the renovation and re-use of old
buildings, where possible, as opposed to destroying them to make way for new
construction. Demolition of old buildings wastes the resources and energy
embodied in existing structures, and generates large quantities of waste
materials. Conservation can also promote the revitalization of the core of the
city, slowing urban sprawl and preserving farmland and wildlife habitat.
Q3.117
What is the relationship between sustainable development and
heritage conservation? Heritage conservation is, in many ways, an embodiment of
sustainable development; it can be both environmentally and economically
beneficial. Take, for example, the case of the conservationist approach to urban
development. While restoration and protection have costs, so does building anew.
In addition, conservation sites can become important tourist attractions. The
preservation of the walls and gates of Qu‚bec City, for example, was important
for heritage reasons, but in addition has helped to sustain one of the most
important tourist centres in Canada. As well, faced with flight to the suburbs
and the decay of the urban core, conservation provides cities with the
alternative of revitalization, attracting business and inhabitants back to the
centre of town. More broadly, sustainable development and heritage conservation
have in common a certain approach to change one that emphasizes managed and
multi-dimensional growth.
Q3.118
Old buildings and other historic environments are examples
of people's changes to the environment. Isn't it contradictory to say we should
preserve these things and the natural environment at the same time? Not at all.
People are a species too, and we build habitats that are worthy of respect. Like
beavers and pine trees, we change the places where we take root but that is not
necessarily bad for the natural environment. Although we have made the
environment worse in some cases, our creations often have actually enhanced the
natural environment. From the Taj Mahal to the Haida totems of the Queen
Charlotte Islands these places show the capability of our species to create
things of beauty, balance, and proportion. We don't need to keep every hillock
in an untouched state; what we need to protect is the health and diversity of
the environment as a whole.
Q3.119
Does heritage conservation involve protecting only positive
aspects of our past? No. Heritage conservation can also help us learn from our
mistakes, including our environmental mistakes. While its main purpose is to
conserve aspects of our culture and history which we cherish, there is also a
need to keep in mind errors we have made. It is commonplace that those who do
not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. In a broad sense then, the
heritage to be 'preserved' includes negative aspects of ourselves and our past;
we must preserve the memory of extinct species, lost habitats, and past
abundance of renewable resources.
Action Step
Individuals can help preserve the natural aspect of
their heritage in many ways: by reducing waste, by using water and energy
efficiently, etc. Individuals can help preserve the cultural aspect of their
heritage by practising the four R's of heritage conservation:
The key is to translate awareness and concern for heritage preservation into
effective action. To get an idea of the sorts of actions that follow from these
principles see the Action Guide.
