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Proactive disclosure Print version   | |  Environmental Atlas of the Beaufort Coastlands Wetlands Distribution
Wetlands have many important environmental, ecological, and economic attributes, some of which include the following: a nesting, visiting and ecological niche for enormous numbers of water fowl; possible recreational sites, including the enjoyment of observing colourful and exotic flowers; a source of peat fuels for energy use; an important fresh-water storage area for plants and animals, and a basis of a related conservation strategy; storage of carbon, a major component of the terrestrial carbon budget. Wetlands are defined as land that has the water table at, near, or above the land surface or which is saturated for a long enough period to promote wetland or aquatic processes as indicated by hydric soils, hydrophilic vegetation, and various kinds of biological activity that are adapted to the wet environment. This definition was developed by The National Wetlands Working Group, which has further described wetlands as water-logged soils, peatlands (where more than 40 cm of undecomposed vegetation is present), areas of shallow open water less than 2 m deep, and areas periodically inundated by water when the waterlogged condition is dominant in the ecosystem. Wetlands occur in mid to high latitudes in many countries around the world. In Canada about 14% of the land surface comprises wetlands, and approximately 87% of this is peatland. Development The main factors, either solely or in combination, that influence the development of wetlands, are morphology of the landscape and climate. Major physiographic elements also exert an influence on the development of wetlands. A fairly good correspondence of percentage cover of wetlands to physiographic elements is readily apparent. The greater cover of wetlands coincides with the low-lying areas of Mackenzie Valley, Tuktoyaktuk Coastlands, the Coastal Plains, and the lower uplands; the lesser amounts, with the mountains. However, some valleys and flats in the mountains and higher elevations of the upland regions may contain substantial amounts of wetlands.
Compiled by: B.R. Pelletier
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