The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is drafting a policy to ensure the province's wetlands are conserved and protected.
Wetlands are a diverse habitat ranging from large open water ponds to small wet meadows and tidal salt marshes. Minister Chester Gillan said the province has recognized the value of these areas for some time.
"Wetlands are protected through regulations, and we work closely with community groups to enhance wetlands. However, we feel it is important to have a wetlands conservation policy in place to formalize the approach we take on a provincial basis," the minister said.
Ducks Unlimited (DU) Canada, through the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, is contributing funding to enable the province to write the wetlands conservation policy.
The international wetland conservation organization has been encouraging all provinces to implement wetland policies.
Mark Gloutney, DU's Manager of Conservation Programs in Atlantic Canada, said most people know the importance of wetlands in providing habitat to a wide variety of wildlife and waterfowl. But, many people do not realize the critical role they play in improving water quality, he said.
"Wetlands serve as natural filters. They help purify water that passes through by trapping and breaking down contaminants such as chemicals, organic waste and sediment," Gloutney explained.
Wetlands are also a valuable part of the PEI landscape because they provide Islanders with a wide variety of recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting and birdwatching.
Ducks Unlimited has been working to conserve Canada's wetland habitat for more than 60 years. In Prince Edward Island, DU works in cooperation with the province through the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV).
Over the past 10 years, EHJV has been active in developing and managing PEI wetlands and acquiring important marshland. The Joint Venture has provided funds to assist in erecting livestock fencing to protect wetland habitat; carry out soil conservation work; establish greenbelts or buffer zones between wetlands and uplands; and manage and enhance small marshes on farms.
Minister Chester Gillan said his department will be preparing the draft wetlands conservation policy over the coming months and will be seeking public input down the road.
"This process provides an excellent opportunity to generate public discussion about the importance of wetlands in our Island environment and encourage more people to become actively involved in protecting and enhancing these areas," said Minister Gillan.
The signing of the agreement between the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment and Ducks Unlimited comes on the eve of World Wetlands Day which is celebrated February 2.
World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Under the convention, Malpeque Bay is officially recognized as a wetland of international importance.
For further information on wetland management, contact the province's EHJV coordinator Alan McLennan at 368-4667; Tom Duffy, habitat biologist with Ducks Unlimited Canada, at 566-0966 (www.ducks.ca); or Randy Dibblee, biologist with the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment, at 368-4666.