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Canada is a country that is rich in natural resources. From fishing to mining and agriculture to forestry, these resources contribute greatly to the Canadian economy. In 2002 forest products alone generated 74 billion dollars for Canada! (www.nrcan.gc.ca/cfs-scf/index_e.html) Where are these forests found? Will they last to serve future generations? Let’s take a look.
1. To begin we will be discovering the type of
forest in our own region and then create
a thematic map of Canada’s forest regions. You will
need a blank outline map (from your teacher)
and four different coloured pencils for
the legend. This map will be collected and assessed at
the end of this activity so be sure to pay attention
to details!
a. Go to the Atlas of Canada Web site at atlas.gc.ca
b. In the Explore Our Maps menu select
Environment » Forests » Forests
in Canada » Forested Ecozones Map.
2. Locate your own geographical location by clicking once on the Zoom
In icon
above the map and then clicking once on the general area of the province where
you live.
3. What type of forest ecozone does the legend show for your area?
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4. To discover what the unique characteristics are in your particular ecozone you will have to do a little reading.
a. Click on the Read
more about this map link located in the small text box on the map or at the end of the abstract.
b. Scroll down until you find the description for your own forested ecozone.
c. In your own words, describe the forested ecozone for your area.
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5. You are now going to create a thematic map of the forested regions of Canada.
a. Go back to the Forested Ecozones Map.
b. Remove the checkmark from the small box beside the legend title Forested Ecozones.
c. In order to see the complete map of Canada, click on the View Full Map tool.
d. Colour in the four regions on your blank map and be sure to include a legend and appropriate title.
e. Use the Zoom In tool and the Zoom Out tool to make sure your map is accurate.
6. Briefly define the terms: coniferous, broadleaf, mixed and transitional forests by thinking about the geography (that is, the climate, altitude, latitude) of where these forests are found and their characteristics. If you are really stuck check the Atlas
of Canada Glossary located in the Learning
Resources section.
a. Coniferous Forest
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b. Broadleaf Forest
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c. Mixed Forest
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d. Transitional Forest
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7. In which type of forest do you think the greatest amount of logging currently takes place and explain why this might be?
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8. Now that we know where the forests are located, we can take a close look
at what they mean to the Canadian economy.
In the Explore Our Maps menu select Environment » Forests » Forests
and the Economy » Productive Forest Land Use Map.
9. Refer to the thematic map that you created for your notes and compare it to the Productive
Forest Land Use Map in the Atlas.
a. Were you correct in your prediction in
question 7? ______
b. In what type of forest does the greatest amount of logging occur?
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In order to understand the significance of this
map, click on the Read
more about this map link located in the small text box on the map or at the end of the abstract. Answer the following questions as
you read the information in this pop-up window. For additional
information to answer the questions, go to the Read
More About section at the bottom of this
page and click the Forests and the Economy
link. On this new page, click the Read
more about Forests and the Economy link
below the first paragraph.
10. What percentage of Canada is covered with forests? ___________
11. What does it mean to call a forest productive?
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12. What is the percentage of productive forests that is harvested each year?
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13. List at least 10 forest products:
a. ____________________________________
b. ____________________________________
c. ____________________________________
d. ____________________________________
e. ____________________________________
f. ____________________________________
g. ____________________________________
h. ____________________________________
i. ____________________________________
j. ____________________________________
14. In terms of employment, how important is forestry to Canadians?
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15. What is unique about Canadian forestry and why is this special?
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16. Now, you’re going to be investigating a new term: forest reliant
communities.
a. In the Explore Our
Maps menu select Environment » Forests » Forests
and the Economy » Forest Reliant Communities,
1996 Map.
b. In your own words, what does it mean to be a forest
reliant community?
(the Read
more about this map link will help
if you’re unsure.)
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c. Is your community listed as forest-reliant, why or why not?
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d. In your opinion, what would happen to the Canadian economy if forestry was not an option for employment?
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Threats to Canadian Forests
17. There are some critical factors that are placing our forests at risk. Using the skills that you have developed in this lesson navigate through the Atlas to find three things that could harm this resource. Read about the following two maps and identify three potential risks to the forest.
a. In the Explore Our
Maps menu select Environment » Forests » Forest
Disturbances » Presence of Humans Map.
b. Click Read
more about this map.
c. In the Explore Our Maps menu select Environment >> Forests >> Forest
Disturbances >> Forest Fires Map.
d. Click Read
more about this map.
Risk 1
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Risk 2
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Risk 3
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18. Canada’s forests are important to our resource-based economy but our forests are also important to the environment. We will now explore how our governments (federal and provincial) are trying to protect our forests.
a. In the Explore Our
Maps menu select Environment » Forests » Studied
and Protected » Model Forests Map.
b. Click Read
more about this map.
c. What is a model forest?
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19. Use the Get Info from Map tool, above the map, to click on the closest model
forest to your area. To use this tool, click on the tool button and then on a
location on the map. In the pop-out window, follow the link to the fact page
regarding this model forest and answer the following questions:
a. How much of this forest is productive?
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b. What type of forest is it? (for example, broadleaf, coniferous, mixed and transitional)
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c. What is the area in hectares of this forest?
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20. Apart from setting up model forests, what else is being done to protect this resource?
a. In the Explore Our
Maps menu select Environment » Forests » Studied
and Protected » Protecting
Forests Map.
b. Click Read
more about this map.
c. After reading the map description and looking at the map, what do you think? Is there enough being done or too little to preserve our forests for the economy and environment of tomorrow? State at least two factors to support your opinion.
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