This article is an overview of Environment Canada's work in the area of wetland conservation, and a lead-in to an ongoing series on the role of the Department's science in preserving important habitats across Canada.
Wetlands are among the most productive habitats in the world.
The freshwater edges of lakes and rivers, inland marshes, swamps, sloughs and peatlands, and the marine waters of estuaries and the tidal ocean shoreline are critical habitats for many species of flora and fauna, serve important ecological functions as sinks for natural and human-made pollutants, and are vital to the economy. Unfortunately, these habitats are also severely threatened by drainage, land reclamation, pollution, overuse and other symptoms of human development. Today, Canada has 36 Ramsar sites, representing some 20 per cent of the 70 million hectares of Ramsar-designated wetlands in the world. This science-driven continental plan involving Canada, the United States and Mexico is focused on about two million hectares of Canada's most threatened wetland habitats. Arrowhead flourishes in channels between delta islands in the Lac St.-Pierre Ramsar site near Sorel, Qu bec.