February 2nd has been designated World Wetlands Day. It is a day to celebrate one of nature’s great gifts to us - wetlands – which include marshes, swamps, bogs and sloughs.
Canada has more wetlands than any other country with more than 1.4 million square kilometres of wetlands covering about 14 percent of its total land area. This represents one quarter of all wetlands in the world.
Wetlands are so important that they are the only ecosystem designated for conservation by international convention. There are 32 designated wetland sites in Canada under the Ramsar Convention. The first World Wetlands Day was celebrated in 1997.
These lands act like giant sponges, soaking up rain and snow-melt and slowly releasing water in drier seasons. Hence, they help to reduce floods and to ease the worst effects of drought. Draining them can lower the water table and dry up wells. Wetlands also reduce soil erosion by reducing the runoff from storms and thaws.
They also help to reverse global warming by absorbing carbon. They provide essential nesting, nursery, and feeding needs for many fish, birds, and other animals. Without wetlands, some wildlife species would disappear.
Today, Canadian wetlands are under tremendous pressure from agriculture, urban and industrial land use development to be filled in.
To help keep Canada beautiful and healthy, support governments, conservation groups, and other agencies in their efforts to save wetlands. The Canadian Wildlife Federation is very involved in protecting water and wetlands.
It is possible to restore wetlands or create new ones.
The Federation of Ontario Naturalists (Toronto) has published instructions on "How to build a marsh". A private pond is just as feasible as a backyard swimming pool. However, it is easier to protect one wetland now than to restore or recreate one later.
Katharine Auslander is a freelance journalist and a resident of Meaford who is very interested in astronomy and environmental issues. She has a Masters degree in Environmental Studies from York University.
