SNC, Ducks Unlimited Canada Celebrate World Wetlands Day with Commitment to Restoration
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every February 2nd to encourage global policy objectives around wetlands and to raise awareness about the value wetlands contribute to our lives.
Wetlands, which can be referred to as swamps, bogs, fens or marshes, are an important interface between land and water. They contribute to our quality of life and survival by playing several important roles in the environment:
- Reduces flooding by absorbing and storing excess water
- Minimizes drought impact by holding and slowly releasing water back to the surrounding areas
- Provides thousands of species of plants and animals with food, water, and shelter
- Captures phosphorus that cause harmful algae blooms
- Traps sediments and reinforces soil to help prevent erosion
- Offers recreational opportunities such as hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting,
fishing, and canoeing
Wetland restoration is vital to the health of South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) 4,441 square-kilometre watershed and its communities. That’s why SNC is thrilled to partner with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Canada’s wetland conservation leader, to mitigate loss by strategically restoring and creating wetlands across Eastern Ontario.
“Wetlands contribute to our quality of life and survival by playing a number of important roles in the environment,” explained Michelle Cavanagh, SNC Stewardship Lead. “With support from DUC, we are able to enhance and protect wetlands throughout our watershed that are so vital to our wellbeing - improved water quality and quantity and valuable wildlife habitat.”
“Ducks Unlimited Canada is inviting everyone to celebrate World Wetlands Day by putting on their boots and jacket and taking a stroll in nature. Wetlands are one of Ontario’s best kept winter secrets. These incredible ecosystems are the hardest-working habitats in every season, and we're proud to partner with the Government of Canada and South Nation Conservation to restore more wetland habitat in Eastern Ontario,” said
Lynette Mader, DUC’s manager of provincial operations for Ontario.
Some SNC/DUC partnership projects include converting a failed spruce plantation into a 10-acre wetland with a diversity of habitats; creating small headwater wetland features to re-wet the landscape; and working with landowners to create or restore wetlands on their properties.
Partnerships with DUC and Environment and Climate Change Canada in 2022 are also helping SNC to acquire more ecologically significant lands, like wetlands. SNC owns 13,000 acres of land in Eastern Ontario through partial purchases and donations through SNC’s Land Securement Program.
For more information:
South Nation Conservation: | Ducks Unlimited Canada: |