Canada Environmental Issues

GPS & E.Q. GPS: SS6G7a. Explain the major environmental concerns of Canada regarding acid rain and pollution of the Great Lakes, the extraction and use of natural resources on the Canadian Shield, and timber resources. E.Q.: How have acid rain, pollution, mining, and the timber industry impacted Canada?

Vocabulary Acid rain: sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide that mixes with water Run off: the draining of water from the surface of an area of land, a building or structure, etc. Extraction: removal Slag: leftover rocks from mining Clear-cutting: cutting down all the trees in an area

ACID RAIN

PROBLEM Emissions from factories and cars cause carbon dioxide & other chemicals to mix with water causing acid rain KILLS plants, damages/kills trees, pollutes lakes & rivers, kills fish, damages stone buildings & statues

SOLUTION Canada’s govt. has passed laws to limit pollution by using cleaner burning fuels Encourages people to walk/bus/bike to work Still a problem: wind currents carry pollution from U.S. to Canada (50 – 75% comes from US!)

EXTRACTION & USE of NATURAL RESOURCES on the CANADIAN SHIELD

PROBLEM Causes: Mining Blasting & digging with heavy machines Dumping slag Releasing SO2 into air Dumping chemicals into rivers & streams Dead plants! Dead fish! Poisoned water!

SOLUTION Canada’s gov’t has made new rules for mining to reduce the amount of pollution in waterways

GREAT LAKES POLLUTION

PROBLEM Factories have dumped phosphorus & human waste into the Great Lakes (phosphorus is used in fertilizers, pesticides, toothpaste, detergents, explosives) It causes algal bloom which kills fish and plants in lakes

SOLUTION 1971: Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (U.S. & Canada) Goal is to restore lakes’ environment by keeping chemicals out of lakes & reducing human sewage dumped into lakes 1972: gov’ts of Canada & U.S. signed agreement to reduce production of phosphorus

TIMBER INDUSTRY

PROBLEM Clear-cutting of trees causes reduced water quality, erosion, loss of wildlife habitat Heavy machines compact forest floor – hard for new plants to grow No trees! No animal homes! Less clean air!

SOLUTION Canada’s gov’t & industries plant millions of seeds & seedlings each year Billions of dollars are spent to manage & protect the forests $100 million or more is spent each year by the logging industry to protect wildlife & habitats