News National Provincial Parties are stepping up to the plate for wetland conservation Oak Hammock Marsh, Man. , September 23, 2011 -- With the Manitoba election around the corner, the political leaders are campaigning hard and laying out their platforms; making promises and commitments to support the case for their party to get elected. An encouraging common theme in many of their commitments is water management and how wetlands play a role in the ecological health of Manitoba. The Liberals came out with a commitment for a no-net loss of wetlands policy, the Greens want to put a halt to all drainage of wetlands in the province, and the Conservatives recently announced their ecological goods and services program providing incentives to landowners for keeping natural wetlands on their land. The leaders' commitments to wetlands is a great first step in recognizing the important role these valuable ecosystems play in public policy issues that impact Manitobans' daily lives and pocket books. "We have seen many of the parties and political leaders starting to realize that it makes more economic sense to conserve our natural wetlands so they may provide flood protection, improve water quality and help mitigate climate change," says Bob Grant, Manager of Provincial Operation for Ducks Unlimited Canada in Manitoba. "These commitments are a positive sign, but the bottom line is that Manitobans need policies that protect wetlands today, tomorrow and into the future." It is important that whatever government comes to power on Oct. 5, these commitments become