Wetlands are areas of land that are saturated with water long enough to promote aquatic processes. They are often characterized by poorly drained soils, water-loving vegetation, and many kinds of biological activity adapted to wet places. Wetlands cover large areas of the province (22-27% of the province’s surface area) and provide habitat for thousands of species. They also provide critical life-support services (e.g. clean water) for people.
In addition, wetlands store vast amounts of carbon – carbon locked away from the atmosphere. Wetlands are susceptible to the impacts of changing temperature and precipitation patterns characteristic of climate change. Wetland protection and restoration are important management tools that will be required to help care for wetlands in a rapidly changing climate during the 21st century.
The following reports provide more information about wetlands and their ability to store carbon, thereby reducing the effects of climate change.
More information about wetlands and climate change can be found in the following report. Contact MNR's Ontario Forest Research Institute for information on how to obtain this report:
- Obenchain, A.M. 2004. Including Wetlands in Carbon Budget Modelling. Ontario Forestry Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Insights, 6(2): 13-14.
- McLaughlin, J. Carbon assessment in boreal wetlands of Ontario. Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Forest Research Information Paper No. 158. 79 p.
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Turtles Quetico - Derek Hatfield
