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Economics of British Columbia

By Daniel Sun

Forestry

Forests in BC

  • Forests cover approximately 60 million hectares in BC.
  • 49.9 million hectares are productive forest land.
  • 48 million hectares are Provincial Crown land, managed by the Ministry of Forests.

In 1947, the Forest Act was revised because so many people were cutting too many trees. One of the regulation of the FA is that logging companies are limited to an allowable cut annually.

Recently, silviculture has improved BC forests.

Silvicultury is nurturing tree growth from seed

to maturity.

Old Growth Trees

Old growth trees can be from 120

to 125 years old.

Old growth forests are unique resources and play an important role in their cultures, providing building materials for...

and

Raw Log Exports

  • The exporting of raw logs are the most controversial forest practies in BC.
  • Timber harvested from Crown land must be used within BC
  • Opponents to raw log exports argue that when timber isn't processed in BC, jobs are lost and the value added of forestry products go down.

The Mountain Pine Beetle

This little insect is the

mountain pine beetle

Isn't it cute?

It's hard to believe that this little insect can bring

devestation to the forest of British Columbia.

The pine beetle's infestation began around the year 2000. Warmer winters helped the beetles survive in areas that had previously been inhospitable. Also, fewer natural forest fires meant that infestation wouldn't be destroyed. This allowed for fewer opportunities for new pines to grow.

The pine beetle moves with the wind, from west to east. By 2008, it had firmly taken root in the pine forests of northern Alberta. This has raised fears that global warming may allow the insects to survive in the boreal forests all the way to Labrador.

Fisheries

  • The west coast salmon run have always been the backbone of the industry. In 1990, salmon represented 55 % of the total value of the commercial catch. By 2005, salmon made up just 10 % of the commercial catch.
  • First nations of the coast depended on fish, particularly salmon, which was caught with spears, hooks, dip nets, and weirs.
  • Over fishing and the destruction of habitats have caused salmon stocks to dwindle.

and

Mining has always been an important part of BC's resource baed economy. BC's mining economy is heavily dependent on export sales. Until 1950, most of the mining in BC was underground.

and

Services

Well, that's the end of my presentation.

Thanks for watching!

Forest Practices

  • The expansion of Canada's railway system benefited the lumber industry in BC.
  • Investment in the forest industry in 1990 was about $2 million.

Totem Poles

Canoes

Tourism, Recreation, and Ent.

Film & Television

  • BC is a worldwide destination for tourism and recreation.
  • From whale watching to skiing, the province's many attractions draw large numbers of tourists.
  • Hiking on the West Coast Trail have also become popular.
  • Winter sports are one of BC's success stories, particularly skiing.
  • BC is the 3rd largest centre for film and television production in North America, next to California and New York.
  • A mild climate and a wide variety of landscapes are just two of the attractions that bring filmmakers to BC.
  • BC's film industry employs nearly 35 000 full time and part time workers in film production and related industries.

Cultural Tourism

Business of Farming

  • A fast growing segment of the tourist industry in BC is cultural tourism.
  • Tourists are eager to learn about the history and culture of BC's First Nations.
  • Northern BC is home to many important First Nations site

Although only 1.1% of BC's land are is prime arable and about 15% is potentially arable, agriculture has continued here since the Hudson's Bay Company encouraged farming on Vancouver Island. Farming was traditionally a small - scale family business in BC, but by the 1990's, agriculture became a major producer of tomatoes and cucumbers for expanding urban markets of the lower mainland.

Land Use Issues

Areas in BC that are ideally suited to agriculture are also ideal for settlement, and they often become centers of high population and growth. In BC, people realized that the province's limited agriculture land was shrinking. In 1973, rising public cncern over the loss of farm land led the provincial government to take action.

Agriculture

Fossil Fuels in BC

Municipalities

Fresh VS Farmed Salmon

Mining

  • The Peace River region of BC has seen growth in its petroleum industry, and the economic benefits have led the government and the oil industry to suggest that other oil and gas resources in the province developed.

Municipal government are very Concered about land use issues. Working with the commission, municipal governments process all applications affecting agriculture lands.

Environmental Consideration

  • Farmed salmon is BC's largest agricultural export.
  • Environmentalists, commercial fishers, tourism operators, and many Aboriginal communities oppose salmon farming; saying that fish that escape can spread lice & disease to wild salmon.
  • Pollution from the farms can also affect surrounding waters.
  • Most environmental damage from mining is caused from disturbing the site during the exploration period and from developing the mine itself.
  • According to the Ministry of Environment, none of the province's and only six of the metal mines generate acid rock drainage , and those mines are taking steps to eliminate it.

High Tech Revolution

Energy

Aboriginal Fisheries

  • Although it makes up only a little more than 6% of the provincial economy, high technology is one of the fastest growing sectors in BC.
  • 4 out of 5 workers in the sector work in service industries, such as computer design, enginneering , telecommunication, and film and video production.

Future & Challenges

It took Canada's Supreme Court almost 20 years to come up with the Aboriginal fishers' rights.

  • In the Sparrow decision, the SC ruled that members of the Musqueam band had the right to fish for food, social, and ceremonial purposes.
  • In the Kapp decision, non aboriginal commercial fishers protested against the federal Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy that allowed First Nations to fish only on certain days during salmon season, arguing that this violated their equal rights.

BC Energy Resources

Alternative Energy

  • BC's energy resources include crude oil, natural gas, and hydro electric power.
  • In 2007, the provincial government introduced the BC Energy Plan, setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Many of the sustainable energy sources available could lessen our dependence on fossil fuels.
  • The main drawbacks of alternative energy sources include high setup costs, and in some cases, conflicts over where the are placed.

Manufacturing

Water

Ownership of Water

  • The demand for water in industries and agriculture continues to grow.
  • The BC Water Protection Act controls the bulk exports of water from BC.
  • Some americans agree that water, as a resource should fal under the jurisdiction of the North American Free Trade Agreement

Threat to Fraser River

The Fraser River is the 5th logest river in Canada. It starts at Fraser Pass in the Rocky Mountains and flows 1375 km to its mouth at the Strait of Georgia. Almost 2/3 of BC population lives in the Fraser Basin. This population growth has had many negative effect on water quality, due to pollution from pulp mills, industries and municipalities. The basin has the greatest salmon producing river in the world. A landslide at hell's gate om 1913 destroyed salmon runs, dramatically demonstrating the devastating effects of disrupting the river's flow.

Water & The Economy

The rivers of BC play a vital role in the province's economy. Dams such as the WAC Bennett Dam on the Peace River supply the province with hydroelectric energy.

Why is Agua Important?

BC has fresh water in abundance, however, water consumption is staggering compared to other nations. In 1999, BCans used an average of 67.8 litres per day. French people's average rate was half of that amount. Recently, population growth and economic development have put more stress on rivers, lakes, and aquifers.

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