Human activity
The Boreal Shield ecozone is a main contributor to the Canadian economy not only with its economic activities but also with its pure fresh air, water, food, recreation, and wildlife. It gives a good chance for more tourism and immigration to Canada. There are many industries that are continuing to thrive in this vast ecozone, here are some main ones.
mining
The Boreal Shield is the leading mineral producer in Canada. The bounty of mining in the Boreal Shield was formed by ancient geographical upheavals. The building of CPR in the 1880's across northern Ontario revealed deposits of gold, nickel, silver, copper, cobalt, and zinc. Mining is the main survival point for more than 80 communities in the Boreal Shield. Although mining is very important for the Boreal Shield, it covers only 5,500 km 2, about 0.03% of the entire ecozone. Ontario and Quebec are the leading producers of this main industry.
forestry
Some of Canada's largest forests exists in this vast ecozone. Sometimes, forests of spruce and balsam fir 1,000 km wide, are found stretched from northern Saskatchewan to Newfoundland & Labrador. About 160 million hectares of the ecozone's forest, about 70%, are timber-productive land. That is half of the Canadian amount. The forest industry harvests about 400,000 ha of timber each year across the Boreal ecozone. The harvested timber is used to turned into lumber & sawmill products, but most is used for pulp & paper production.
fishing & agriculture
Lastly now a days still Agriculture is the main aspect practiced by people. As the region is much closer to the U.S it is easier to sell them food and this way we make more money as the U.S are large consumers. The fishing industry is a part of the
economy in Canada in this Eco zone. It is particularly practiced in New Found
land.
trapping
As mentioned before, the land towards the West is flat and was used as farm land. These two things had attracted the European settlers when they came to the region. As the land is rich with wild life it was a good spot for fur trade. Hunting and trapping is practiced even after so many decades for fur and other products, but now for environmental reasons it is practiced less and prohibited.
hydro-generation
As the Boreal Shield has the Great lakes, St. Lawrence River, and Hudson Bay close by with many more smaller bodies of water, this area has a good hydro-electric water supply. This is the region where most of Canada's water supply and electricity supply comes from.