Gatineau Park: The Capital s Natural Jewel. Presented by Christie Spence Canadian Institute of Forestry AGM Ottawa, September 28, 2017

Transcription

1 Gatineau Park: The Capital s Natural Jewel Presented by Christie Spence Canadian Institute of Forestry AGM Ottawa, September 28, 2017

2 Gatineau Park The Capital s Conservation Park - foremost green space in Canada s Capital Region 361 km 2 - natural lands with road network, enclave communities (private property) 15 minutes to Parliament Hill

3 Background Order in Council to create Park in July Gréber Plan proposes major expansion 33,000 hectare park Successive land acquisitions by NCC since 1959 Long-term objective to acquire National Interest Land Mass properties Authority granted to the NCC to acquire any lands in properties acquired since 2008

4 Environment 80% forests, 50 lakes Numerous water courses & wetlands, open fields Rare ecosystems: Eardley Escarpment Pink Lake Over 5,000 species >150 Species at Risk Environmental legal obligations

5 Recreation and Culture 600,000 people make 2.6 million visits year round Outdoor recreation: Beaches, hiking, cycling, parkways, camping, picnic areas, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, downhill skiing Heritage sites Economic impact: $241.5 million annually to GDP

6 Challenges

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9 Other Natural Resource Challenges Conserving Species at Risk Invasive species: Emerald Ash Borer, Dog-strangling vine, Eurasian Water Milfoil, Garlic Mustard, etc. Ecological isolation Impacts of climate change: floods, fire

10 NATURAL CAPITAL The Economic Value of the Na9onal Capital Commission s Green Network

11 The Study Area FIGURE 1. NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION S GREEN NETWORK LA PÊCHE VAL DES MONTS L'ANGE GARDIEN 10% of lands in Canada s Capital Region: CANTLEY PONTIAC CHELSEA GATINEAU 473 km2 OTTAWA Municipal Boundaries Gatineau Park Greenbelt Other NCC Land National Capital Region km 2.2 Gatineau Park Gatineau Park, located where the Canadian Shield meets the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the Ottawa River meets the Gatineau River in the province of Québec, is home to many unique and diversified ecosystems and heritage features. It covers 36,131 hectares (361 square kilometres) and represents 7.7% of the total NCR area. Just 15 minutes from Parliament Hill, Gatineau Park is a prime destination for visitors and residents alike, with more than 2.7 million visits each year. Activities such

12 Ecosystem Services SUPPORTING PROVISIONING REGULATION CULTURAL Landscape Aesthetics Nature appreciation Biological Control Nutrient Cycling ` Food Products Pollination Climate Regulation Non- Timber products Erosion Control Soil Formation Air Quality Regulation Water Quality Regulation Timber

13 Ecosystem Services Ecosystems: Provide or produce services useful to humans Contribute to health, well-being, and a healthy environment: Clear air, fresh water, recreation, aesthetic value, etc. Reduce costs associated with infrastructure: Water filtration, erosion control, flood prevention, etc.

14 Types of benefits Direct benefits: monetary value Construction wood Agricultural products Fresh water Non-woody forest products Indirect benefits : not traded in traditional markets Air quality control Water filtration Climate regulation and carbon sequestration Wildlife habitat Erosion control

15 Methodology 1) Spa9al designa9on of the study area 2) Classifica9on and mapping of the land use cover 3) ES valua9on 4) Calcula9on of total ES valua9on and breakdown by cover classes 5) Spa9al analysis of ES valua9on

16 2) Classification and mapping of the land use cover Land use cover class Area (ha) Area (%) Rural Wetlands Urban Wetlands Rural Forests (Broadleaf) 15, Rural Forests (Mixedwood) 21, Rural Forests (Coniferous) Urban Forests (Broadleaf) Urban Forests (Mixedwood) Urban Forets (Coniferous) Agriculture (Barley) Agriculture (Beans) Agriculture (Berries) Agriculture (Corn) Agriculture (Fallow) Agriculture (Oats) Agriculture (Other grains) Agriculture (Pasture/forages) Agriculture (Soybeans) Prairie and Pasture Cropland Urban Forest Rural Forest Urban Wetland Rural Wetland Aquatic Area Built-up Area Other km Agriculture (Wheat) Freshwater Systems Urban/developed TOTAL 55,

17 3) ES valuation 1) Market pricing: Determined value of economic rents for agricultural systems (food products) 2) Replacement cost method: Used the value of the social cost of carbon (expected damage due to climate change) to assess value of the climate regulation service. 3) Benefit transfer method: Database contains 149 monetary estimates from 78 different studies published between 1990 and 2016, and mainly from sites in the United States, Canada, and European countries. Used to assess most nonmarket ES.

18 4) Calculation of total forest ES value Ecosystem Services Nb. of $ estimates Total area (ha) Min. value Max. value Mean St. deviation Method Total value ($k/y) ($ per hectare per year) Urban Forests , ,514.3 Global Climate Regulation nd RC Air Quality nd BT Water Provisioning BT Waste Treatment nd BT Erosion Control BT Pollination nd MP 48.1 Biodiversity Habitat BT 4,171.8 Disturbance Prevention BT 7,806.6 Pest Management nd BT 65.2 Nutrient Cycling Recreation nd MP Rural Forests 36 38, ,2 16, ,489.4 Global Climate Regulation nd RC Air Quality nd BT Water Provisioning BT 31,989.4 Waste Treatment BT 12,124.7 Erosion Control BT 5,223.5 Pollination nd MP 1,182.0 Rural Forest (Coniferous) Biodiversity Habitat Rural Forest (Deciduous) Disturbance Prevention Rural Forest (Mixed) Pest Management Urban Forest (Coniferous) Nutrient Cycling Urban Forest (Deciduous) Recreation Urban Forest (Mixed) , nd BT - BT BT MP 83, , BT: Benefit transfer; RC: Replacement cost; MP: Market pricing km

19 4) Calculation of total ES value Ecosystem Services Urban Forests Rural Forests Wetlands Croplands $ per hectare per year Prairies, grasslands Agricultural Products Global Climate Regulation Air Quality Water Provisioning Freshwater Systems Waste Treatment , Erosion Control Pollination Biodiversity Habitat , Disturbance Prevention , Pest Management Nutrient Cycling Aesthetics Recreation TOTAL ,

20 5) Spatial analysis of ES valuation $0 - $1,000 $1,000 - $3,000 $3,000 - $5,000 $5,000 - $10,000 $10,000 - $50,000 More than $50, km

21 Overview of results Wetlands $59 394/hectare/yr Urban Forests $9 352/hectare/yr Rural Forests $4 193 /hectare/yr Prairies and grasslands $3 338 /hectare/yr Crop lands $1 363 /hectare/yr Aquatic habitats $137 /hectare/yr

22 Conclusion Value of some ecosystem services estimated: -not a precise measurement. NCC lands provide ecosystem services with a minimum value of $332 million per year,, for a total value of greater than $5 billion over 20 years. Enhance awareness of values of publicly held lands in Canada s Capital input to long-range planning and decision-making.

23 Link to study

24 Thank you