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Canadian Geography 1202 Natural Resources for the Future Canada’s landscape provides what human’s need: environment for leisure / recreation (aesthetic) raw materials jobs associated with extracting resources & selling goods. A healthy economy & prosperous lifestyle depend on: 1. strong natural resource base 2. skilled workers 3. favourable world trade and strong export markets 4. innovation & ingenuity Natural Resources - anything found in nature that people can use (figure 6.2) Renewable Resources: can be replaced naturally Non-renewable Resources: exists in finite amounts or replaces itself slowly Flow Resources: used and replaced simultaneously Sustainable resource system: to last into the future & can either renew or recycle itself before being used, or be replaced with other resources. Resource consumption on a Global Scale: wealthy, industrialised countries = 20% pop. & consumes 80% resources. An Economic Perspective - Money in the Bank Exports - sale of products or services to another country Gross Domestic Product: value of all goods & services produced in a country. Natural resources = 13% of GDP Energy contributes more than ever before to the Canadian economy. However, since oil & natural gas are nonrenewable, Canadians seek efficient technology to ensure sustainability. The Big Players – Transnational Corporations Large companies with businesses in several countries. Ex. Vale, an iron ore & nickel producer based in Brazil, operates Voisey’s Bay, Lab., processing facilities in Long Harbour, and other mines in Canada. Sustainable Development of Resources Renewable resources must be regenerated faster than they’re consumed. 3 factors to consider: - maintaining a strong economy - the needs of people in their communities - protecting the natural environment Across Canada, new resource development projects are required to undergo an “environmental assessment” process to determine their potential environmental impact. Agriculture – An Essential Primary Industry - 1.7% of Canada’s GDP - jobs for 1/86 Canadians - safe abundant food supply - uses other natural resources (ex. Water, fossil fuels) Arable land – land suitable for growing crops; 7% of Canada’s land is arable. Factor’s affecting agriculture: - climate - closeness to market - landforms - competition from farmers - soil - world market prices - consumer demands - ethics (moral principals) - available transportation Challenges farmers face: - natural hazards (ex. Drought) - animal diseases (ex. Mad cow / avian flu) - cost of fuel & equipment - crop prices - competition from international subsidized farmers - competition from factory-farms subsidy: $ given by govt. to offset the cost of production. Trends in Agriculture Market trends – changing consumer demands pressure farmers. Ex. Egg producers provide eggs rich in Omega-3 or eggs from freerange chickens. Changing Technology – During the 1960s & 70s, developments in machinery, chemicals and seeds increased food production doubling the food supply since 1950. - However, some technology such as pesticides, has negative impact on the environment and health. Public concerns have brought about the ban of some toxic pesticides and reduced use. Moving Away from the Farm - Improved technology = bigger but fewer farms, fewer farmers & farm workers, thus, migration from rural to urban areas. This urban growth eventually takes over surrounding farmland. The Food System Canadian agriculture is an “agribusiness industry” – large-scale farming that carries out all steps involved in producing food: growing, storing, processing, transporting. Often, just one company, a transnational corporation, is involved in all aspects. This can be negative for farmers& grocery stores who receive only a small profit. Factory Farms Large-scale forms of agriculture where large numbers of animals are kept in confined spaces & treated with hormones & antibiotics to maximize growth & prevent disease. A move away from small family farms due to the trend towards an increasing availability of processed food. Those against factory farms look to sustainable agriculture as a responsible alternative as it… - is profitable - protects the environment (ex. Organic agriculture) - conserves natural resources - supports rural community - will last into the future Declining Fish Stocks - 1992 cod moratorium announced by the federal govt. for NL. - NL fishery still employs more than 20,000 people has increased in value from 2009 to 2010. - East & West Coast wild salmon have also been disappearing. Reactions - Fishing other species in deeper waters. - Fish farming or aquaculture. - People moving to urban areas for work. Background on Canada’s Fisheries - Continental shelf: outer edge of the continent that extends below the surface of the ocean. Best Fishing areas or Fishing Banks are in these warm shallow waters. - Grand Banks: largest & one of the most productive fishing banks in the world. In this area, the nutrient-rich water is stirredup by the cold Labrador current meeting the warm Gulf Stream. Sunlight penetrates the shallow water and supports the growth of plankton which fish eat. Groundfish: live on the ocean floor; caught by trawlers. Pelagic fish: swim in open water & caught by long-liners using purse seines. Shellfish: found along the ocean bottom and caught in traps or weirs. Reasons for Declining Stocks (figure 6.29) Changing Technology – technology such as radar & GPS aid fishers to find fish. Trawlers – stay at sea for weeks - process & freeze fish on board - catch up to 30 tons per net = 600 tons per day - 25, 000 worldwide; 1000 registered Canadian - nets take other species & destroy prime fishing habitat Overfishing – catching too many fish puts stocks at risk. Bycatch – nets accidentally catch small fish reducing the ability of fish stocks to reproduce & recover because its dumped. - waste equals 80% of total catch in some fisheries. Quota System – quota is the amount of a species of fish that one boat or group of fishers can catch per year. - issued by the fed. Govt. - after cod moratorium, licenses & quotas were issued for lobster or snow crab. Aquaculture - fish farming; breeding & growing of fish in controlled spaces. Advantages: food rich in omega 3 fats, good source of protein, economically viable. Disadvantages: high levels of antibiotics & toxic chemicals, threat to wild salmon stock & natural systems. Resolving the Fisheries Crisis: What’s Needed? - Involvement of fed. & prov. govts. - Reduced fish quotas - Time to rebuild - Marine environment must be considered - Continued research - Involvement of all stakeholders Sustainable Fisheries - Choose fish species from rebounding stocks (ex. Atlantic snow crab) or that are caught in ways protective of fish habitat (ex. haddock & Pacific halibut caught by hook & line). - Organizations to follow & encourage sustainable fisheries (ex. Marine Stewardship Council; Audubon Society). Digging for minerals Canada – Potash capital of the world - We produce more than any other country; 95% in Sask. - Potash is 2nd to diamonds in its contribution to our nonmetallic minerals production. - Rich in potassium & use to make fertilizer, soap, animal food, medicines and water softener. Hunting for treasure – Finding the Minerals - ore bodies: rocks with enough of a mineral to be worthwhile mining; located using high-tech computer & satellite technology. Magnetometers find metallic minerals. However, traditional methods must still be used: study maps & air photos; collect maps & soil samples; examine rock cores to determine mineral amounts. - Open pits: for ore bodies close to the surface. - Shafts & tunnels: for ore bodies deep underground. - knowledge of geography is helpful: metallic minerals are found in igneous rock of the Canadian Shield; fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are found in sedimentary rock of western & Atlantic Canada. - the potential economic value of the ore & an environmental assessment process determine the probability of a mine. Mining Towns & the Economy - raw materials for manufacturing & high-tech industries. - single-industry towns (ex. Logan Lake, B.C.). - must diversify its economy as protection when the ore is no longer plentiful or profitable. - 80% of total Can. value found in Ont., Sask., B.C., Que. - represents 8.6% of NL’s total GDP. - Nunavut (Canadian Shield rock) has potential for gold, base metals and diamond mines. Global Connections - 1st in uranium production. - 1 out of top 5 in production of gold, aluminum, zinc, platinum & salt. - 5th in diamond production. - about $80 billion a year for Canada. - more than 300,000 jobs in Canada. The Mineral Trade -In 2010, we exported $85 billion worth of minerals & primary metals. - In 2010, our mineral imports totaled $67 billion. - Difference between imports & exports : balance of trade A Balancing Act – Mining’s Impact on Natural Systems - Uses much energy (fossil fuels & electricity) that affect air & water quality, & contribute to green house gas emissions. - Sometimes mining companies help to re-establish wildlife habitat or to develop recreational areas. - Govts. enforce environmental laws & ensure the restoration of affected landscapes & ecosystems. - We must all waste less, reduce use of mineral products, and recycle mineral-based products. Acid Rain - includes rain & fog. - highly acidic & threatens ecosystems. - problem in Atlantic Canada as its water & soil systems lack natural alkalinity & cannot neutralize acid. - caused by burning of coal or oil in electrical generating plants & the burning of gasoline in vehicles. - biggest producers: refining & smelting industries - kills coniferous trees. - water & soils in Canada’s north are sensitive. - a lake with a minimum pH level of 5.0 is considered dead , from which fish or water shouldn’t be consumed. - between 1991 and now, emissions causing acid rain have been cut in half (ex. Inco Ltd. In Sudbury, p.283). Canada: A Country of Forests - 397.3 million hectares covering ½ of Canada’s land mass. - almost 57% is commercial forest (ex. Timber). - cover 90% of the Atlantic Maritime ecozone. - Boreal forest, Canada’s largest forest region, is part of the largest ecosystem on Earth. Canada’s Forests – Complex Natural Systems - continual change through a cycle of growth, death & renewal. - interact with other natural systems (climate, water, soil). Economic Values - 300+ communities in Canada depend on forestry. - 195,000 people directly employed. - 5500+ people work in forestry industries in NL. - exports of forest products = $24 billion per year. Ecological Values - reduce soil erosion, recycle water, & control water flow. - produce oxygen & absorb carbon dioxide (carbon sinks). - contain a rich diversity of species. - urban forests help create cleaner air & water for 80% of Canadians living in towns & cities. Cultural and Social Values - they are aesthetically pleasing. - they provide traditional food, medicines, & materials for Aboriginal peoples. Who Owns Canada’s Forests? -94% of Canadian forests are publically owned. - Exceptions: 90% P.E.I., 68% N.S., & 50% N.B. are privately owned. Forest Harvesting Methods 1. Clear-cutting 2. Strip Logging 3. Shelterwood Cutting 4. Selection Cutting Forests For The Future A sustainable forest management plan is required: a plan of long-term goals for an area to be logged; required by law in Ontario. Model forests: an approach to sustainable management of small areas of local forest that involves input from all stakeholders who work together as a team.