Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Garibaldi at Squamish project
Memo for EIA of the proposed project: EIA Squamish (1)
Fig 1. Protected areas that are not suitable for the construction of the proposed ski park project
When working on environmental projects, it is unavoidable to be engaged in proposals or projects that I as a environmental geographer would ethically believe in. For example, after my analysis of the proposed project area, I do find that there are suitable or potential areas where the construction of the ski park resort is plausible. However, there are many other ecological impacts that may have been overseen. For example, although there are some areas that does not fall within the ‘protected areas’ zone for this analysis, they can be harmful to the ecology or biodiversity in the region as well. The construction of a ski resort in these areas might result in the fragmentation of key habitats and ecosystem in the region, for instance the interference of migration corridors for species, etc. Pollution is another major problem to consider as well, as the pollutants (e.g. oil, waste, etc.) from the construction and development of the project might affect adjacent streams, riparian habitats, and other surrounding ecosystems in the area. I personally do not agree with the proposed project from a ecological standpoint. However, the economic and social benefits might prove to be beneficial for the local community. More research have to be done to determine the benefits and implications of such projects.
