1. Canada
Environmental Issues

2. 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?

3. 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

4. ACID RAIN

5. 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

6. 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!)

7. EXTRACTION & USE of NATURAL RESOURCES on the CANADIAN SHIELD

8. 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!

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

10. GREAT LAKES POLLUTION

11. 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

12. 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

13. TIMBER INDUSTRY

14. 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!

15. 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