ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH
Nature provides so much more than simple scenic views or locations for recreation.
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Ecosystems, like those found within the proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area, provide numerous services that benefit humans and help sustain our quality of life. From carbon sequestration and climate regulation to water purification and flood prevention, natural and recovering ecosystems perform invaluable services that are often ignored or minimized.
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Our team of Dalhousie University researchers evaluated some of the ecosystem services provided by the area. You can read their findings and explanation below.
A Breath of Fresh Air​
Our team looked at 2,000 randomly generated points within the proposed wilderness area and placed said points into one of three categories: tree, non-tree, or water. Modelling software called iTree Canopy then analyzed these points to estimate total forest canopy cover and associated ecosystem services values.
Ingram River Ecosystem Services & Their Values
Benefit
Value (CAD)
Carbon Monoxide removed annually
$1,003.28 (±$15.78)
Nitrogen Dioxide removed annually
$1,727.28 (±$27.17)
Ozone removed annually
$89,953.19 (±$1,414.82)
Particulate Matter > 2.5 microns removed annually
$185,949.72 (±$2,924.70)
Sulfur Dioxide removed annually
$301.89 (±$4.75)
Particulate Matter > 2.5 and < 10 microns removed annually
$65,303.70 (±$1,027.13)
Carbon Dioxide sequestered annually in trees
$6,088,854.25 (±$95,768.24)
Carbon Dioxide currently stored in trees
$152,913,977.00 (±$2,405,099.92)
These estimates place the annual value of air pollution services provided solely by the trees within the area at around $6.4 million. If forests are left to recover and mature, the value of these services will increase.
Wetlands:
$5,996 to $6,687 per hectare per year in water regulation, water filtration, flood control, waste treatment, and wildlife habitat.
Lakes & Rivers:
$4,017 to $12,484 per hectare per year in drainage, water supply, and genetic resource services.
Forests:
$869 to $5,415 per hectare per year in water filtration, carbon storage, and wildlife habitat.​
Nova Scotia Protected Areas Study​
In 2017, the Nova Scotia government commissioned a study of the commercial benefits of the province’s protected areas. This report, completed by Gardiner Pinfold Consulting Inc., attempted to quantify the commercial, personal, and societal benefits provided by the network of protected areas in Nova Scotia¹. Gardiner Pinfold utilized an earlier study by Global Forest Watch which produced a series of estimates for the value of ecosystem services provided by various land cover types in Nova Scotia (i.e. wetlands, forests, lakes and rivers, and barrens). These estimated values are²:
Using these valuations, the researchers considered even more ecosystem services, arriving at the following estimates.
Value of Ecosystem Services Within the Ingram River Wilderness Area by Cover Type
Forests
Lake & Rivers
Wetlands
Low-End Estimates
High-End Estimates
Millions ($ CAD)
10
20
30
40
50
60
Our team’s calculations indicate that the Ingram River Wilderness Area could provide Nova Scotians with $18 million to over $75 million in services, including water filtration and regulation, waste treatment, carbon storage, and flood control. ​
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References:
1-Gardiner Pinfold Inc. Commercial Benefits of Nova Scotia’s Protected Areas. (2017).
2-Global Forest Watch. NS Protected Area Natural Capital Report. (2013).