Kaitlin DeBoer

Canada's forests, crucial for ecosystem services like soil protection and carbon sequestration, are impacted by natural disturbances and human activities. This study develops quantitative indices of wilderness quality through a mixed methods approach, facilitating the exploration of protection strategies, trade-offs, and policy alternatives. The research addresses the impact of human resource extraction and land use on Canada’s forest integrity. It utilizes three indicators—Land Naturalness, Absence of Human Artifacts, and Remoteness—in a weighted overlay to assess and map wilderness quality. The findings reveal that 72.4% of Canada's land maintains high wilderness quality, whereas only 4.5% is heavily urbanized. Additionally, 23% of the landscape is under unsustainable management. These results provide a baseline for ongoing monitoring and preservation efforts in Canada’s forested regions, highlighting areas where intervention may be needed to maintain or enhance wilderness characteristics.
Keywords: wilderness, spatial model, wilderness continuum concept, forest degradation, intact forest