Environmental Trends 2002

Economy

GDP Generated by Provincial Parks

SOURCE: Economic Benefit of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks, September 2001. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. NOTES: Estimates of economic benefits from BC Parks are derived from input/output models based on visitor and government expenditures on the parks system.

Trends in economic gains from provincial parks

• British Columbia’s protected areas system provides a wide range of benefits that contribute to the social, environmental, and economic well-being of the province.

• In 1999, British Columbia’s provincial parks contributed an estimated $521 million to the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP), up 30% from 1993.

• In 1999, economic activity generated by provincial parks directly and indirectly sustained about 9,100 jobs.

• Economic and employment benefits of parks are distributed across the province. More than 50% of GDP and jobs are generated outside the Lower Mainland and Victoria regions.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth report [pdf].