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Left to right: Muskrat, Walter B.
Fechner; Green Frog, Walter B. Fechner; Fragrant White Water Lily,
Canadian Wildlife Service
GLWCAP Update 2003
What's inside:
Introduction
The Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan
(GLWCAP) plays a key role in ensuring the conservation of
Great Lakes wetlands through coordinating, implementing and reporting
on wetland activities of both government agencies and non-government
organizations in Ontario. When it began in 1994, GLWCAP was a new
way of doing business through agreeing on priorities and the aggressive
pursuit of wetland conservation opportunities under existing programs,
rather than a new program with a designated or collective pool of
resources. It remains that way today.
GLWCAP is organized into eight long-term strategies that encompass
all aspects of wetland conservation – from physical protection
and rehabilitation, to periodic reviews and improvements to wetland
legislation, policies and guidelines, and increasing awareness of
wetland functions and values. Within each strategy are a series
of milestones, or specific actions that when completed, represent
continued progress toward GLWCAP's wetland conservation goals.
The overall direction and coordination of GLWCAP is overseen by
an Implementation Team including representatives from the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Environment Canada (EC), Ducks
Unlimited Canada (DUC), the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC),
and the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON). These organizations
along with other GLWCAP partners, including a variety of agencies,
interests and community stakeholders, take responsibility to collectively
deliver distinct projects, milestones and strategies that best complement
their strengths and interests.
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GLWCAP - A Model of Cooperation
8 wetland conservation
strategies
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Why Wetlands?
Many Great Lakes residents have gained appreciation for the importance
of wetlands simply by spending time in them. Quietly observing wetland
wildlife in a local marsh or swamp evokes tacit understanding of
some of the functions and values that wetlands contribute to the
quality of life of humans and other living creatures. Unfortunately,
in spite of their recognized values,wetland loss and degradation
across the Great Lakes basin continues at an alarming rate. Scientists,
educators, naturalists, and policy makers must coordinate efforts
to ensure that wetlands are protected well into the future.
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Highlights of GLWCAP Phase
One (1994 - 2000)
GLWCAP partners:
- produced and distributed numerous fact sheets, brochures and
manuals to promote wetland conservation;
- recommended a suite of coastal wetlands health indicators through
the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference;
- secured 5,000 hectares of wetland through acquisition; rehabilitated/created
over 6,000 hectares of wetland;
- incorporated wetland conservation and protection in Remedial
Action Plans prepared for the 15 Canadian and binational Great
Lakes Areas of Concern, where possible; and
- documented progress and released two well-received GLWCAP Highlights
Reports, in 1997 and 2000 (www.on.ec.gc.ca/wetlands/onlinepublications-e.cfm)
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GLWCAP incorporated in the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting
the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA)
The COA represents a commitment by the governments of Canada and
Ontario to restore and protect the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
Renewed in 2002, the current Agreement outlines how the two governments
will cooperate and coordinate their efforts to achieve this commitment.
The Agreement includes an overarching agreement to stand in perpetuity,
along with four annexes, each of which specifies five-year goals
for the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.The Lakewide Management Annex
includes a commitment for Canada and Ontario to "implement
the Great LakesWetlands Conservation Action Plan". GLWCAP Phase
Two will follow the lifespan of this COA Annex – beginning
in 2002 and wrapping up in 2007.
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GLWCAP Phase Two
In 2000, the first Action Plan wrapped up while planning for a
second Action Plan began.Development of GLWCAP Phase Two involved
evaluating the previous Action Plan to assess progress towards the
completion of each milestone (see GLWCAP Highlights Report (1997-
2000)).The relevance of each milestone in today's wetland conservation
environment was also considered, given changes in policy and scientific
understanding since the writing of the first GLWCAP work plan. Phase
Two does not present new strategies, as there will always be work
to be done to further wetland conservation under these broad areas.
It does present new and modified milestones to guide continued progress
under each strategy.
Highlights of GLWCAP Phase Two Milestones:
- Continue to publicize wetland values to society, to water, and
to wildlife in order to encourage wetlands conservation.
- Investigate the science of wetlands including: the relationship
between wetland hydrology and groundwater discharge/recharge,
features that define faunal habitat preferences,wetland function
within a landscape mosaic considering hydrology, connections to
uplands and buffers, exotic species, species at risk, toxicology,
sensitivity to climate change, relationship between wetlands and
water quality, and economic values.
- Promote and facilitate responsible wetland protection and management
on private lands by landowners through extension and stewardship
programs.
- Strengthen and enhance wetland rehabilitation and management
expertise through training and technology transfer to rehabilitation
practitioners.
- Influence Official Plans through stewardship and other efforts
to promote that wetlands be designated and zoned for conservation
in local planning documents. Provide information to municipalities
to facilitate planning.
- Coordinate binational Great Lakes wetlands meetings to complement
initiatives such as the North American Bird Conservation Initiative,
Great Lakes Conservation Blueprints and State of the Lakes Ecosystem
Conference.
A complete list of the GLWCAP Phase Two milestones is found in
the GLWCAP Highlights Report
(2000-2003).
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For more information
If you have any questions or comments or would like to receive
any GLWCAP publications, please contact any of the GLWCAP Implementation
Team organizations directly, or the GLWCAP Secretariat at:
GLWCAP
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada (Ontario Region)
4905 Dufferin St.
Downsview, ON M3H 5T4
Tel: (416) 739-4950
E-mail: Wildlife.Ontario@ec.gc.ca
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