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The Socioeconomic Significance of Nature-Based Recreation in Canada

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Abstract

In recognition of the many values that people ascribe to nature, federal, provincial, and territorial agencies worked inpartnership to complete the 'Survey on the Importance of Natureto Canadians' (SINC) in 1981, 1987, 1991, and 1996. Between 1981 and 1996, more than 80% of Canadians 15 years of age and older engaged in one or more nature-related activities. This paper describes the evolution of this cooperative monitoring program, defines a classification system as a context for the values examined by the SINC, highlights trends of some nature-related recreational activities measured by the survey, and comments onthe importance of this information to Canadians.

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Gray, P.A., Duwors, E., Villeneuve, M. et al. The Socioeconomic Significance of Nature-Based Recreation in Canada. Environ Monit Assess 86, 129–147 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024010819749

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