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Alberta’s wetlands contribute $377 million per year to tourism, $98.5 million to sport fishing and $38 million to hunting. (Westworth & Associates, 1993)In 2004, one of Canada’s leading economists, Dr. Nancy Olewiler of Simon Fraser University released The Value of Natural Capital in Settled Areas of Canada, a report commissioned by DUC and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Pages in this Article
- Stewardship of Natural Capital and the flow of Ecological Goods and Services
- Environmental Farm Planning
- Water for Life
- Calgary Wetland Policy
Natural Capital and Ecological Goods and Services 
Natural resource capital is the stocks of renewable and non-renewable resources, environmental capital are systems that provide essential ecological goods and services. These resources are collectively termed natural capital for their ability to produce valuable goods and services over time.
Ecological Goods and Services (EGS) are the benefits humans derive from healthy ecosystems such as; water supply, food sources, habitat, carbon sequestration, waste treatment, erosion control and scenic qualities. DUC is working on many fronts to ensure that Natural Capital and the beneficial flow of Ecological Goods and Services are understood and included in the decision processes across Canada.
Maintaining Natural capital in rural landscapes plays a key role in maintaining our supply of EGS. Rural landowners and land managers are the stewards of these natural ecosystems, helping to provide healthy groundwater recharge, flood and erosion control, biodiversity, and clean air and water.
DUC is no stranger to the concept of ecological goods and services and has, for many years, provided extension services and incentives to landowners wanting to conserve wetlands and natural lands through beneficial management practices. More recently, DUC has been involved at both the federal and provincial levels in supporting and promoting the Agricultural Policy Framework, Environmental Farm Plans and the evaluation of beneficial management practices in watersheds.
Download Natural Capital and Ecological Goods & Services Fact Sheet
