Protecting What We Value
It is not easy to put a dollar amount on clean water and air, plants and wildlife. These are just some of the services that the environment offers to us, at no cost. They can generally be called, 'ecological goods and services' (EG&S). Giving a cash value to ecological goods and services is becoming more important. When we know their monetary 'worth' (in general terms), it is easier to provide incentives to protect them.
For this initiative, the Canadian Model Forest Network has partnered with the Canadian Federation of Woodlot Owners and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. We are working to understand how society can conserve and find incentives and markets for protecting ecological goods and services. It will also be exploring options to offset the costs obtained by voluntary actions of forest managers, landowners and farmers.
The program includes a number of local-level projects across Canada. These work towards finding the best tools and incentives and developing and expanding current knowledge and expertise. This advises the growing ecological goods and services market that is emerging. The results of this program have been distributed widely and made available to stakeholders and those interested in pursuing similar activities. This program also plays a major role in making suggestions for EG&S policy in Canada.
Valuing Ecological Goods & Services from the Forest: Overview and Results of Five Regional Workshops