Friday, July 27, 2012

Finally! A Google App That Measures Natural Capital

Ever wonder why folks get so upset about clearcutting on the Eastern Shore (or anywhere there's a wealth of forest for that matter)?


One of the reasons relates to the enormous economic wealth of our "Natural Capital", a resource that multinational pulp and paper companies, with help from our own governments, steal from us on a daily basis. 


Finally, the wealth of Natural Capital is entering mainstream. Google Earth and David Suzuki have teamed up to offer an app that measures the wealth of natural capital (trees and their canopies in this case) in any given area.


So far, just southern BC (Vancouver area) and the massive urban corridor in Ontario are available, but it's a eye opener, measuring the wealth of the Ontario Greenbelt at at least $2.6 billion in non-market benefits each year and British Columbia's lower mainland at more than $5.4 billion annually. And they're just getting started. Suzuki and Google Earth plan to map the world's Natural Capital. 


Suzuki writes, "Global studies have estimated the total value of the world's ecosystem goods and services to be on par with the value of the entire global economy. In short, our natural capital is a source of staggering wealth. Global studies have estimated the total value of the world's ecosystem goods and services to be on par with the value of the entire global economy. In short, our natural capital is a source of staggering wealth". 

Try the Google Earth/Suzuki app here. 


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The Eastern Shore Current is an eclectic Blog for Nova Scotia's Highway 7 Online. Visit the website!

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