13-6 Protecting, Sustaining, and Restoring Wetlands

How Are Wetlands Regarded in Canada? Some Progress

Once dismissed as uninhabitable lands to be drained for farming or sold inexpensively to real-estate developers, wetlands are now seen as highly productive ecosystems and centres of biodiversity. In addition to providing habitat, they filter pollutants from water, prevents floods, slow soil erosion, and store greenhouse gases. They present recreational, educational, and economic opportunities. Lake and coastal wetlands are vital nurseries for fish stocks.

There are continuing attempts to preserve wet- lands. The North American Waterfowl Management Plan protects thousands of hectares of wetlands in order to provide habitat for ducks. Organizations ranging from tiny grassroots groups to Ducks Unlimited are staunch defenders of wetlands.

Case Study: The Sackville Waterfowl Park

The town of Sackville, New Brunswick, has a unique feature: located just a five-minute stroll from the heart of downtown is an award-winning waterfowl park. At one time a vast natural salt marsh, this area was ditched and drained for farming by Acadian settlers who arrived in the late 1600s. Today, through the efforts and funding of the Town of Sackville, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and other partners and helpers, the area has been transformed into a 22-hectare freshwater mecca for birds, tourists, and townsfolk.

At least 30 species of birds breed in the Sackville Waterfowl Park, and the park’s location on the Atlantic flyway make it a convenient stopover for migrants from distant places during the spring or fall. In addition to boosting tourism in the area, the park has created educational opportunities, and served as a backdrop for festivals celebrating waterfowl, art, and theatre.