Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Wilson, S. 2010. Natural Capital in BC's Lower Mainland: Valuing benefits from nature. Prepared for The Pacific Parklands Foundation
Organization David Suzuki Foundation
URL http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2010/DSF_lower_mainland_natural_capital.pdf
Abstract/Description or Keywords IT IS EASY TO FORGET THAT NATURE is the source of such necessities as the food we eat, air we
breathe and water we drink. Nature’s ecosystems also provide less plainly obvious services such
as protecting us from floods and storms or pollinating our plants. These and other benefits have
supported extraordinary growth of the human population throughout the world. Yet a majority of our
ecosystems are in serious decline, especially ones near our sprawling towns and cities. Thus it is
increasingly apparent that nature’s benefits can no longer be taken for granted. Ignoring the health
of our ecosystems and the essential benefits they provide threatens our way of life.
This report examines the extent of natural capital – the forests, fields, wetlands and waterways
– in British Columbia’s lower mainland region, and estimates the non-market economic values
for the various services and benefits these ecosystems provide. We often do not recognize these
benefits or pay directly for these services, so they are undervalued in our market economy. The
intent of this report is to provide a preliminary assessment of ecosystem services in economic
terms so decision makers and the public can appreciate the true cost of degrading our ecosystems
and, conversely, the potential economic benefits of protecting and restoring the region’s wealth
of natural capital.
BC’s Lower Fraser Valley contains some of Canada’s best agricultural lands, wetlands and forests.
However urbanization and development continues to result in the loss of natural capital across this
region. The population of the region including the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Fraser
Valley District has grown quickly over the past two decades. In 2007, approximately 57 per cent of
British Columbia’s population resided in the Lower Mainland region. The population is now over 2.5
million people, and it is estimated to grow to over 3 million by year 2020, thus potentially placing
enormous stress on the region’s natural capital and ecosystem services. The top three benefit values provided by the study area’s ecosystem services are: (1) climate
regulation resulting from carbon storage by forests, wetlands, grasslands, shrublands and agricultural
soils; (2) water supply due to water filtration services by forests and wetlands; and (3) flood
protection and water regulation provided by forest land cover. It is estimated that climate regulation
provides an estimated value of $1.7 billion per year, while water supply provides an estimated $1.6
billion per year, and flood protection and water regulation provides an estimated $1.2 billion per year.
The other values determined for the study area include the following benefits: clean air, waste
treatment, pollination, salmon habitat, recreation, and local food production. The total value for all
benefits provided by the study area’s natural capital is an estimated $5.4 billion per year or about ecosystem services, water supply, water quality, aquatic habitat
Information Type report
Regional Watershed Lower Fraser
Sub-watershed if known
Aquifer #
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Project status complete
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