Canada's Ecological Values within Intact Forest Landscapes

This dataset combines "key ecological values" within intact forest landscapes in order to identify what can be called "key ecological areas" that is, the most valuable areas from an ecological perspective.

Although intact forest landscapes have intrinsic value in themselves, identifying "key ecological values" within intact forest landscapes is challenging due to the limited amount of information on most remaining intact areas. It is also difficult to evaluate trade-offs in various prioritization schemes, as value judgments are required and values vary widely. In addition, the methodologies that have been developed for identifying and prioritizing values may not yet be sufficiently refined in order to receive widespread acceptance.

Because of these challenges, GFWC approached the identification of "key ecological values" within intact forest landscapes using select indicators as illustrative only.

We do not presume that this is the only, or the best, analytical approach possible. More detailed data on some indicators internally held by various governments and industrial sectors could provide a more accurate analysis, regardless of the approach taken. However, many indicators were not included in our map analysis simply because broad-scale inventories are not yet available or have not yet been undertaken. More consultation with Canadians is required in order to identify, categorize and prioritize key ecological values.

We do not presume, either, that the geographic areas we present in this section are the only areas that deserve enhanced attention. For example, woodland caribou and grizzly bear ranges need enhanced attention as these species are in decline in significant areas nationwide. Our results are a very broad landscape-scale illustration of focal areas that may warrant enhanced conservation and stewardship attention. But the approach we take is not an exhaustive study on this topic.

GFWC selected and mapped, in 1-kilometre grid cells, 7 key ecological values for all of Canada's intact forest landscapes: soil organic carbon; net biome productivity; wetlands; lakes and rivers; potential old-growth; species diversity (reptiles and amphibians, birds, mammals, trees); and, key focal species (woodland caribou)