The Value of What Nature Gives Us for Free

Backcountry and outdoor enthusiasts know the respite offered by time spent in nature and it’s no surprise that — in a time of social distancing — the past year has seen a huge spike in outdoor usage, both in the backcountry and in local parks. 

With that, economics students at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops recently presented on the economic value of local Kamloops parks, which reportedly saw a 64 percent increase in visitation in 2020 over the previous year. 

“Parks are more valuable than the trails they provide for hiking and biking. They provide a wealth of ecosystem services — benefits nature provides us for free, such as carbon storage and air purification — which makes them among the topmost valuable assets to [the] area.”

This relatively new field of economics, called ecological economics, aims to integrate the environment with the economy and place a value on nature to protect it. To learn more about the study and findings, check out the full article.

#myBCbackcountry Through Your Lens Photo Contest Closed!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2021 photo and story contest. Our BLBCA team and guest judge, Jamie Out, have loved viewing all of your amazing photographs and reading through your stories about how you recreate responsibly in the backcountry. 

All submissions have been reviewed and winners have been selected. We are in the process of contacting winners to coordinate prize fulfillment and we will be announcing the winners on May 3rd, so keep an eye on your inbox and our website for the full announcement!

In Case You Missed It: How the BLBCA Celebrates Earth Day, Every Day

As leaders in sustainability initiatives, the BLBCA takes responsible tourism seriously, so you can enjoy unspoiled wilderness in the years to come.

Learn how we aim to protect the environment and focus on the need for conservation through human powered adventures, keeping the backcountry wild, and by promoting conversation through education. Let's work together to protect what we have, there is no PLANet B!