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Premier Klein Presented with Wetland Conservation Award 
Calgary, Alberta October 25, 2005—Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) presented Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and the Alberta government today with an award recognizing their leadership and support of wetland conservation.
DUC President, Peter Carton, presented the limited edition bronze statue to Premier Klein in his office in Calgary yesterday. “Premier Klein and the Alberta government have led the way in wetland conservation,” said Carton. “We wanted to recognize their continued support to conserve these areas, which contribute so much to the health of our water resources.”
“I was very pleased to accept this award from Ducks Unlimited Canada,” said Premier Klein. “Water and wetlands are very important resources. We are committed to ensuring we develop sustainable solutions to water issues in our province.”
Premier Klein and his government have demonstrated their commitment to a healthy and sustainable water supply through the development of a provincial water strategy, Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability. Led by the Environment ministry, this provincial strategy provides a framework for addressing water related issues.
The development of a wetland policy as part of the Water For Life Strategy indicates the government’s recognition of wetlands as important parts of a healthy water supply.
Among the numerous benefits they provide to our environment, wetlands naturally clean the water that flows through them. They filter out chemicals, excess nutrients, bacteria and sediments from water before it flows into our lakes, rivers and streams. Clean water not only makes for healthy wildlife and fish, but for healthy people, too.
“That’s why it’s so important for the Alberta government to continue to support wetland conservation,” said Carton. “In Canada, as much as 70 per cent of wetlands have disappeared in settled areas. We need to continue working to conserve these critical wetland habitats or we’ll continue to lose them.”
The government’s commitment to wetland conservation doesn’t stop there. The deputy ministers of Energy, Sustainable Resource Development and Environment recently signed a Letter of Mutual Agreement to co-operate with DUC in watershed based planning throughout Alberta’s western boreal forest.
“We look forward to continuing our history of co-operation with the Alberta government,” says DUC’s director of regional operations, Dr. Morley Barrett. “Developing practical solutions that consider our environment, our communities and our economic well-being will ensure the province has sustainable and healthy water resources.”
Here are some ways that Canada’s and Alberta’s wetlands contribute to the protection and quality of our water resources:
Nature's Water Filters
Wetlands and the habitats associated with them, function like huge water filters. Excess nutrients, soil particles and pollutants captured and carried by moving water settle in wetlands. Chemical processes and organisms associated with wetlands break down and retain nutrients and pollutants, preventing them from traveling downstream.
The need for increased wetland conservation has been recognized in the reports from formal inquiries into water contamination in Walkerton, Ont., and North Battleford, Sask. Wetlands are part of healthy, functioning watersheds and when teamed with constructed water treatment facilities, they contribute to safeguarding water quality.
Recharging Groundwater
When it comes to freshwater, what you see isn't what you get. Almost all (97 per cent) of the world's unfrozen freshwater is stored underground. When water in wetlands can permeate underlying soils, wetlands help recharge underground aquifers. Almost one-third of the world's population relies on underground aquifers as their only source of drinking water.
Moderating Floods and Droughts
Wetlands can be compared to sponges that capture water and release it slowly. By doing so, a series of wetlands in a watershed can help to provide water supplies during periods of drought and control the effects of flooding during times of peak water flows.
A Source of Life
Wetlands provide critical habitat for wildlife. Approximately 600 species of wildlife, including one-third of Canada’s species at risk, are found in wetland ecosystems.
Support wetland conservation by becoming a member of DUC. Join us today by calling 1-866-384-DUCK (3825).
Ducks Unlimited Canada is a private, not-for-profit, Canadian organization. Since 1938 DUC has positively influenced more than 24.9 million acres (over 10 million hectares) of wetland and upland habitat for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife and people. DUC has 8,600 active volunteers and 150,000 supporters who respect and enjoy Canada’s great outdoors.
For more information:
Sherry Feser, s_feser@ducks.ca
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: (780) 489-2002
