On the planet, the richest country is the United States. The United States is unmatched in its wealth, and no other country can match it, which is why the United States has always been regarded as an ideal place for immigrants.
The question of which country has the richest natural resources is a matter of great diversity, from the Middle East to lush rainforests, and Russia to vast lands. If these natural resources were converted into monetary value, there would be many richest countries in the world.
However, don't overlook Canada, a country famous for its maple leaf. Canada is known for its exceptional natural environment and clean air, and whenever the ranking of the world's most liveable countries comes out, Canadian cities are bound to be on the list.
Canada is a vast country that is truly a natural treasure trove. With a land area of 9.98 million square kilometers, Canada is the second largest country in the world, with nearly 35% forest coverage. In other words, Canada has nearly 3.5 million square kilometers of primary forest.
It is well known that primary forests have the richest timber resources, while the average timber stock of Canadian forest resources reaches the level of 1100 cubic meters per hectare. Imagine that Canada can sustain a fairly wealthy life just by selling timber, far more than the oil that needs to be extracted from the ground.
In addition, the vast amount of forest resources brings an additional benefit, that is, clean air. As a forest country, Canada is a health destination for the wealthy due to its excellent living environment. The negative oxygen ions provided by primeval forests are unmatched elsewhere, while Canada's temperate regions have a mild climate and superior living environment, so there is a large influx of immigrants every year.
However, there is no perfect thing in the world, and there are two sides to everything. Although Canada is rich in forest resources, they can also suffer disasters if not properly managed and utilized. Thus, a fire destined to be impossible to extinguish came.
The fire, which began in March 2023 and lasted for seven months, has spread over an area of 200,000 square kilometers and burned about 6% of the forest cover. In other words, Canada burned about 22 billion cubic meters of timber.
This figure is staggering, Canada has not only lost its forest wealth, but also paid a huge price. The fire mainly destroyed cedar and cedar-like species, which are high-quality timber on the international timber market and cost about $330 per cubic metre. As a result, Canada has lost a staggering $7,260 billion in wealth.
The fire was one of the greatest ecological disasters in human history, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and other toxic substances in addition to a huge loss of wealth. All this is chilling, Canada's wildfires have become an unquenchable nightmare, and we should also mourn this troubled planet.
This fire shows us that a catastrophe can destroy a country's wealth and ecosystems. Although Canada has lost only 6% of its forest cover, it has paid a huge price. For the once-rich country, the fire will always be a painful lesson and a warning of the fragility of the ecological balance.