Wetland Stewardship
"wetlands are not wastelands"

An attitude that has prevailed in many jurisdictions is that property which cannot be developed is considered wasteland. Wetlands have been filled in or drained when it has been economically feasible to do so. Wetlands have been built upon for industrial and residential developments. They have been drained for agricultural purposes, flooded for hydro projects and they have even been backfilled to create recreational areas. The intrinsic value of these wetlands has been ignored and the cumulative effect of this loss and degradation compounded by major droughts has resulted in a crisis situation throughout North America.

Wetlands provide valuable habitat for wildlife but there are many other important functions that they perform.  Some of these are:

	enhancing water quality, thanks to the wetland’s ability to filter pollutants from drinking water supplies,
	flood damage abatement, thanks to a wetland’s ability to soak up and hold flood waters,
	ensuring adequate water supply for public use, irrigation, and livestock, thanks to the groundwater-recharging functions of wetlands,
	erosion and shoreline damage reduction, thanks to wetland vegetation that binds and stabilizes substrates, traps sediment, and reduces wave or current energy, and
	recreation, thanks to wetlands that support boating, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, and other wildlife viewing.

The wetland stewardship program has been developed to highlight the value of wetlands and to encourage public participation in the protection of this valuable resource.