Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation
Action Plan (1997-2000)

Highlights Report 1997 - 2000

The Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan (GLWCAP) is a cooperative program that involves federal and provincial governments and non-governmental organizations in efforts to establish a comprehensive wetlands conservation program for Great Lakes wetlands. The Action Plan's goal is to create, reclaim, rehabilitate and protect wetland habitat in the lower Great Lakes basin. The Action Plan adopted eight strategies to work toward this goal:

1. Increase public awareness and commitment to protecting wetlands
2. Develop a wetlands database and an increased understanding of wetland dynamics
3. Secure wetlands
4. Create, reclaim and rehabilitate wetlands
5. Strengthen legislation, policies, agreements and compliance
6. Strengthen local planning and commitment to protecting wetlands
7. Improve coordination and planning among government and non-governmental organizations
8. Evaluate the program

Specific activities under each of these strategies have been initiated by the organizations involved in the development of the Action Plan (see Our Partners) as well as other organizations and individuals concerned about wetland protection.

Table of Contents

Conserving Great Lakes Wetlands

The Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan (GLWCAP) brings together a variety of government and non-governmental partners in an effort to conserve the remaining wetlands in the Great Lakes basin. It complements the goals of the Federal Wetlands Policy (1991) and the Provincial Wetlands Policy (1996) (which is a component of the Provincial Policy Statement), and is the first plan of action produced under the 25-year Strategic Plan for Wetlands of the Great Lakes Basin. Partners take on responsibility for individual projects, milestones and strategies that best complement their strengths and interests.

The Strategic Plan was launched in 1993 following extensive consultation with public and private agencies with an interest in wetlands. More than 30 partners were involved in the development of the plan. These partners work together with individual citizens and landowners to further wetlands conservation. The long-term goal is to protect the area and function of 30,000 hectares of wetlands in the Great Lakes basin by 2020.

The Action Plan was announced in 1994 through the signing of the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) by federal and provincial environment ministers. The COA is a six-year agreement that sets specific targets and time frames for restoring, protecting and sustaining the basin's ecosystems. The GLWCAP is a key delivery mechanism for the COA's goal of rehabilitating and protecting 6,000 hectares of wetland habitat by the year 2000.

The Action Plan is also an important vehicle for implementing wetlands conservation efforts binationally, including international commitments under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference.

Although the Action Plan's goals and projects are relevant to all wetland types in the basin, the GLWCAP has given priority to the most threatened wetland areas - coastal marshes in the lower Great Lakes basin, between Sarnia and Cornwall. Demonstration areas include Oshawa Second Marsh, the Long Point Wetland Complex and the Rondeau Bay Marshes.

Implementation of the GLWCAP is coordinated by a team of representatives from Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Federation of Ontario Naturalists and The Nature Conservancy of Canada. Other major partners include Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Ontario Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (OEHJV) of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) and the Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund. The implementation team facilitates, monitors, assesses and reports on progress towards the Action Plan's milestones.

The Highlights Report covers an extensive range of Great Lakes wetland conservation initiatives, including those led by the GLWCAP's implementation team members in addition to Environment Canada's Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund, a number of programs under the auspices of Ontario's Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (including most of Ducks Unlimited Canada's activities in the province and Wildlife Habitat Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' Wetland Habitat Fund), and others. The report adds to the summary of activities described in the First Progress Report and wraps up the first Action Plan. There are many interesting and useful definitions, documents and activities described in the First Progress Report which are not repeated in this document. To refer to the first report, visit: www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/docs/glwcap1994-2001-e.html or contact Environment Canada (see Contacts).

Planning for a second Action Plan is underway by the GLWCAP's implementation team as well as other partners. A cooperative, consultative approach, similar to that adopted to create the first Action Plan is planned for the development of the next Action Plan. There have been many achievements and changes in wetlands conservation since the first Action Plan was prepared. Combined with the complementary and concurrent strategic planning of partner agencies such as the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Ducks Unlimited Canada, this presents an opportunity to develop a new, comprehensive Action Plan which looks to the future.

Acknowledgments Information, written contributions and editorial reviews of this highlights report by Lesley Dunn, Nancy Patterson, Doug Forder, Doug Dodge, Sandy Turner, John Riley, Victoria Richards, Linda Pim, Ron Reid, Andy Margetson, Karen Hartley, Brian Potter, Kevin Loftus, Larry O'Grady, Chris Risley, Irene Bowman, Allison Grose, Dave West, Erling Armson, Owen Steele, Rick Haigh, Joel Ingram, Nick Kinkel, Lee Suddick, Laurie Maynard, John Shaw, Brigitte Collins, Janette Anderson, Gary McCullough, Jeff Robinson, Pat Chow-Fraser, Russ Weeber, Marilyne Jolineau, Doug Cuthbert, Clay Rubec, Heather Mackey, Donna Stewart, and Doug Wilcox are greatly appreciated. Photo Credits: (top to bottom) B. Wesson, J. Mitchell, Hamilton Region Conservation Authority, J. Mitchell Design by H. Mason

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