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Celebrate World Wetlands Day 
On Monday, February 2, we celebrate World Wetlands Day.
World what day?
Edmonton, Alberta, February 2, 2004 – Yes, it seems like every day is a day to celebrate some obscure aspect of daily living. There is probably a World Onion Day and a World Stop Biting Your Nails Day as well. It makes it hard to take any of them seriously.
Yet, Canadians do take their wetlands seriously, and they should. In a 2003 national poll of Canadians conducted for Ducks Unlimited Canada by Western Opinion Research Inc., 43 per cent of people surveyed identified water resources, such as wetlands, lakes and rivers, as the most important focus for environmental protection.
A wetland is defined as an area of land that is saturated by water for all or part of the year. Up to 25 per cent of the world’s remaining wetlands are found in Canada, and they provide some significant and surprising benefits to each and every one of us. First, they are nature’s best water filters. Through natural processes, they can remove more than 90 per cent of common nutrient pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus. They remove more than 70 per cent of the sediment that is carried in waterways. They also protect livestock and human health by effectively removing disease carrying pathogens.
If you like wetlands, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re really not alone. It is estimated that more than 600 species of wildlife (approximately 278 of which rely on wetlands to survive), including one-third of Canada’s species at risk, are found in wetland ecosystems. Not only are they great for maintaining wildlife populations, but they also provide people with recreational opportunities like bird watching, hunting, hiking and ecotourism.
Wetlands are capable of holding and releasing vast amounts of water. They act like giant sponges, releasing water in dry years and absorbing it in wet years. This helps prevent floods and droughts. Wetlands are also vital in recharging groundwater, preventing soil erosion and maintaining healthy moisture levels in surrounding agricultural areas.
So, if wetlands are so great, why are they disappearing? As much as 70 per cent of Canada’s wetlands have been lost already, and they continue to be threatened. Municipal development, agriculture and industry all play a part in this loss. And the cost of losing wetlands may be higher than we think. It may result in increased construction of water treatment plants, increased investments in habitat restoration or development of programs to secure a future for endangered wildlife species.
Yet, there is plenty of hope for the future of Canada’s wetlands. On this World Wetlands Day, we can celebrate the fact that the development of a national wetland inventory is currently underway through a partnership among Environment Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Ducks Unlimited Canada and others. This inventory will help Canadians better understand how many wetlands we have and identify where we need to act to stop further loss.
Take a moment to think about what you can do to conserve, maintain and restore Canada’s wetlands on World Wetlands Day. A small act today can mean a big difference in the future.
For more information:
Trish Ritthaler
Marketing and Communications Manager, Priarie region
Ducks Unlimited Canada
780.489.2002
