| Wetlands, as the name implies, are lands that are nearly always
wet. Wetlands occupy about 18% of Canada and Canada possesses about
25% of the world’s wetlands. Wetlands filter the water that passes
through them of sediment and contaminants. They help recharge groundwater
supplies and hold a good proportion of near-surface carbon. Wetlands
also provide habitat for a great variety of species, particularly
waterfowl. This map shows the concentration of wetlands among Canada’s
ecoregions.
Wetland Conservation
Wetland conservation is important particularly in the human dominated
ecozones of southern Canada where native wetlands have been largely
drained or otherwise altered. Wetland conservation is occurring
through private and public efforts. The largest wetland conservation
initiative is the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP),
an agreement originally signed in 1986 by Canada and the United
States and updated in 1994 to include Mexico. The North American
Waterfowl Management Plan is an innovative partnership program implemented
and financed through joint venture partnerships involving federal,
state, and provincial/territorial government agencies, non-government
organizations, the private sector, and landowners. All provinces
and territories are represented.
NAWMP
aims to restore waterfowl populations in North America to 1970’s
levels by securing, enhancing, and managing wetland and upland habitat
across the continent. A major objective of NAWMP
is to achieve and maintain a breeding population of 62 million ducks
which could produce a fall flight of 100 million waterfowl. The
Plan also aims at maintaining wintering populations of 6 million
geese and 152 000 swans. In Canada alone, the goal is to secure
and enhance a minimum of 2 million hectares of wetlands, the majority
in the Prairie ecozone. By the end of 1996, 28 percent of NAWMP’s
habitat objectives in Canada had been met. Over half a million hectares
of wetlands and uplands habitat were secured and enhanced in Canada
and an additional 2 million hectares had their use modified to support
the objectives of NAWMP.
Although the primary focus of the North American Waterfowl Management
Plan is the conservation of wetlands and upland habitat to support
waterfowl populations, activities benefit a range of other resources
such as water, plants and other wildlife species. For example, NAWMP
conservation activities make a substantial contribution to the health
of the entire ecosystem, including endangered species such as the
piping plover.
|
