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| Blanding’s turtle. Photo: Allen Woodliffe |
It’s spring. Rivers and creeks in full flood race along streambeds filled with the remnants of winter: chunks of dirty ice, tree limbs and grasses and sometimes pollution from manure spread on farm fields. The turbid water often spreads over its banks. Canada Geese fly in “V” formation across the sky. Spring plants start to emerge from the wet soil. Wetlands start to come to life after the long winter.
During the winter months, Ministry of Natural Resources biologists and their conservation partners, especially those working together under the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) or local stewardship council coordinators, haven’t been quiet. They’ve spent long hours making plans for the upcoming spring and discussing how these plans will affect wetlands. They’ve been looking at and identifying practical options for protection and restoration of these important streams, springs, creeks, marshes, fens, bogs and swamps.
Why are wetlands important?
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| Rebecca Zeran |
Rebecca Zeran a program advisor with the Ministry’s Stewardship and Conservation Incentives Section plans to speak to land owners and other people like you and me who might not get the urgency she and others feel about protecting Great Lakes coastal wetlands. She helps coordinate work done through the Ontario Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (OEHJV) partnership,
to conserve and restore wetlands.
This work is important she knows, because wetlands:
• are nature’s sponges, natural storage areas for water that will be needed come summer and fall
• help prevent flooding
• provide habitat for many birds, fish and other wildlife, including several species at risk
• provide breeding and staging habitat for migrating birds.
Under the OEHJV, the Ministry supports partner agencies who talk to landowners about stewardship programs. Rebecca says these programs can provide financial or physical assistance to help the landowners themselves do and build things that will protect wetlands. She says, “The OEHJV brings together both government and non-government partners who are particularly concerned about the conservation of Ontario’s wetlands and migratory birds. Partners then will focus on areas of the province which are often recognized internationally as being important for waterfowl.”
As well, some landowners participate in conservation agreements with OEHJV partners like Ducks Unlimited Canada where they voluntarily agree to conserve biodiversity on their land for a certain number of years – often many. Ducks Unlimited Canada will then help the landowner with things such as putting up fencing to keep cattle away from sensitive wetlands. Some landowners may even donate their wetland to Ducks Unlimited Canada so that it can be protected for generations to come.
Who is helping to protect and restore Ontario’s precious coastal wetlands for birds, other wildlife and for each of us?
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| Regina (Gina) Varrin |
Regina (Gina) Varrin is a Ministry biologist who works with Rebecca. She is working on The Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan begun in the ‘90s which sets targets for protecting and restoring wetlands in Ontario. This Action Plan is the result of many agencies and individuals working together.
“It reflects the current status of our wetlands and emphasizes the importance of stewardship,” she says. She adds that even people who aren’t really what we’d call “nature lovers” and don’t necessarily have “nature for nature’s sake” high on their priority lists are beginning to understand wetlands’ importance for drinking water, habitat for rare and sometimes endangered species and also that wetlands can help reduce flooding.
She sees this as a hopeful sign.
Gina explains that good stewardship of the land includes using best management practices for farming. These include activities such as:
• creating a buffer of trees, shrubs or other plants between wetlands and fields
• enhancing waterfowl habitat in wetlands by installing nesting structures for example nest boxes or platforms
• fencing off wetlands from livestock and providing alternate watering sources.
“More than 70 per cent of southern Ontario’s wetlands have been lost,” she declares. “Public awareness of the importance of wetlands is key” to help conserve and protect them
We can learn more about restoring, creating and conserving Ontario’s precious wetlands – see also:
• Preserving the biodiversity of the Great Lakes – an overview• Restoring, enhancing, creating Great Lakes coastal and river wetlands
o Part 1 - The Huron County Stream-Wetland Restoration Project
o Part 2 - The Rondeau Project
• Working with municipalities to evaluate wetlands – what this means for biodiversity
Partners in OEHJV include:
• Ducks Unlimited Canada
• The Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Bird Studies Canada
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service)
