The preservation of wetland ecological goods and services: an evaluation of land conservation techniques for the Lac La Biche watershed, Alberta

Wetland ecosystems situated in the Lac La Biche, Alberta watershed provide environmental goods and services whose values are not incorporated in land use decision-making. Ignoring the economic value associated with wetland conservation underestimates the true cost of land development, and may lead to land-uses that do not maximize benefits to society. I conduct an economic valuation, stakeholder consultation, legal analysis and explore the relationship between land uses and the Lac La Biche aquatic ecosystem to determine the viability of establishing a natural area relative to the current land use regime in Lakeland County, Alberta. The analysis evaluates a variety of voluntary and mandatory land conservation techniques utilized to establish a natural area. I conclude the natural area designation is a viable policy option relative to the status quo and the collective use of voluntary and mandatory techniques will likely achieve the stated policy objectives.