“In the history of human civilization, economies that have been sustainable over the long-term are community based economies. Because decisions made in the community are made close to the land and water ecosystems that are affected by economic activities. Community based economies have the best chance for decisions that respect ecological limits and maintain ecological integrity.”
— Herb Hammond R.P.F. and Forest Ecologist with 40 years of research, industry, teaching and consulting.
Good Jobs require Healthy Ecosystems and Healthy Communities
Based on a 2012 Natural Assets Report * completed for BC’s South Coast, qathet Regional District's 294,879 hectares of forested land provide us with 1.8 to 3.2 billion dollars/per year in ecosystem services* (depending the species, structure, age and location of the forests). These numbers give us a ballpark understanding of the economic value of our forests, beyond that derived from timber harvesting alone.
* Refer to the report for details on each service and how their natural asset values were calculated. Note that although the report title refers to the Lower Mainland, large parts of qathet RD were included in the study area.
The Doughnut consists of two concentric rings: a social foundation, to ensure that no one is left falling short on life’s essentials, and an ecological ceiling, to ensure that humanity does not collectively overshoot the planetary boundaries that protect Earth's life-supporting systems. Between these two sets of boundaries lies a doughnut-shaped space that is both ecologically safe and socially just: a space in which humanity can thrive.