Population Health
This indicator measures population, population growth rates, projected population, infant mortality, life expectancy and average family income in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin. The indicator also describes income dependence on traditional sectors such as forestry, fishing and mining in the Georgia Basin.

	In 1976, the Puget Sound Georgia Basin was home to 4.1 million people. 25 years later the region has grown significantly to 7 million and by 2025 growth is expected to push the population to 9.4 million. Read more…
	People move to this region for relatively well-paying jobs, with the benefits of a dramatic natural environment defined by both temperate rain forests and the ubiquitous presence of water. Read more…
	We will not gain new land. Once altered or degraded, ecological functions can be difficult and expensive to restore. Read more…
	Broad land use planning decisions, as well as the push for sustainable and innovative solutions, can help our communities develop without causing them irreparable harm. Read more…

Introduction to the Population Health Indicator

An International Sustainability Challenge

As the population of the world continues to grow, major challenges include the ability of communities to manage the rate of growth and to accommodate population growth in ways that ensure the health and sustainability of both ecosystems and human settlement. Although the rate of global population increase is slowing down, the United Nations projects that in the next 50 years, two-thirds of humanity will be living in towns and cities. A key challenge will be how to preserve and restore environmental functions in these urbanizing areas, while maintaining and improving the quality of life in cities.

Backcast and Forecast of Population Growth in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin, 1995-2025
Click on the chart below to view a larger version

Source: BC Stats, State of Washington Office of Financial Management

"In the past two centuries, humans have become another driver of large-scale ecosystem change and have disrupted or altered many processes that sustain the species and services of the Puget Sound Georgia Basin ecosystem.  Humans have eliminated or impaired habitat through the modification of rivers, shorelines and marshes, harvested some species to critically low levels, intentionally or accidentally introduced non-native and invasive species, and deposited toxic chemicals and concentrated nutrients into the marine waters.  In recent decades, efforts to ameliorate these effects have been initiated, and examples of localized successes can be found in many parts of the Puget Sound Georgia Basin." (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration et al, 2006)¹⁸

"The Puget Sound Ecosystem: Milestones of Two+ Centuries of Change," extracted from Sound Science: Synthesizing Ecological and Socio-economic Information about the Puget Sound Ecosystem, provides an overview of significant environmental and social events in this region during the last 200 years.¹⁸ (PDF, 3pp., 48KB)

The economies of Washington State and British Columbia are linked to the global economy through trade, and share the prevailing technologies and practices that challenge both local and global environments today. But we also share emerging technologies and practices that can help us become sustainable – environmentally, socially, and economically. The regional governments serving the Puget Sound Georgia Basin, along with many local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and businesses are trying to respond to these challenges by applying our existing growth management, transportation planning, and environmental protection tools. We are also borrowing and adapting techniques from each other and from others around the world. In turn, we are developing strategies and techniques that can be used elsewhere.

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