Wetlands not only provide a habitat for the whooping crane, woodland caribou and other species-at-risk in Alberta, but they also perform invaluable services for mankind. This ecosystem acts like a sponge, absorbing excess water when available and releasing moisture when the surrounding land dries up. This role of “sponge or kidney” is becoming increasingly important as changes in climate are in turn changing the timing and amount of water that flows downstream. Wetland vegetation is also trapping contaminants, reducing the amount of nutrients reaching streams and is storing large amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise contribute to the Greenhouse effect. In the next few decades as human population growth and urban sprawl continue, our vulnerable wetland ecosystems will be placed under enormous stress.
- Alberta has different kinds of wetlands and peatlands and they are fast disappearing for a variety of reasons.
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- About 40% of Canada’s waterfowl make use of Alberta wetlands.
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- Alberta’s wetlands are a source of many economic benefits.
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- Alberta has already lost much of its original wetlands and the ones that remain are very much threatened by human activities.
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- Wetlands keep waterways healthy. When we drain or pave over a wetland we destroy an ecosystem and place our own interests first.
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- Wetlands play an important role in reducing climate change and its impacts.
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More about classification, importance and loss of Alberta’s wetlands and peatlands:
Every wetland is really a unique blend of both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Regional differences in climate, land features, surface and groundwater flow, vegetation, and soils all act to produce wetlands with different characteristics. Wetlands, including “prairie potholes,” now cover about 21% of Alberta, but this number is far different from what existed only a century ago. For example, about 60% of wetlands in the Parkland region of Alberta were drained in the last century and about 75% of the original wetlands surrounding Edmonton and Calgary had disappeared by 1966. This loss occurred for a variety of reasons, but the main reason is that wetlands have great agricultural potential. They continue to be drained and used for agriculture and those that remain are at risk of contamination and acidification due to industrial and automobile pollution.
Resource: A 22 page document produced by Alberta Environment, Alberta’s Aquatic Ecosystems.
More about Alberta’s threatened wildlife:
Alberta’s wetlands are used by approximately 250 species of birds. Those classified as endangered or threatened, such as the peregrine falcon, piping plover, white pelican, caspian tern, and whooping crane, face extinction if their wetland habitats are not maintained. Many other species, including fish, mammals, and plants, depend on wetlands for feeding, nesting, or shelter.
Resource: A 10 page document published by Alberta Environment, Focus on Wetlands.
More about economic benefits:
Peat is partially decomposed plant material that has accumulated in water that is low in dissolved oxygen. The many uses of peat make it a significant contributor to the Alberta economy. Wetlands also benefit other parts of our economy such as the hunting and trapping industry, agricultural users and recreation and tourism related activities (e.g., birdwatching).
Resource: A 10 page document published by Alberta Environment, Focus on Wetlands.
More about the loss of Alberta’s wetlands:
Alberta’s wetlands are disappearing due to drought, clearing of land for development or agriculture, peat extraction, timber harvesting, and oil and gas exploration. In 1990, the Alberta government finally acknowledged the need to protect the remaining wetlands, but the policies that were developed did not guarantee long term wetland health. As human populations increase, more area will be needed for city expansion and increased agricultural production. A study by the Pembina Institute estimated that for each hectare of wetland lost the Alberta economy loses $3,582 per year. Another study estimates the annual cost at $21,313 per hectare. Use the link below to find out how these estimates were developed.
Resource: A 34 page document published by the Pembina Institute, The Alberta GPI Accounts: Wetlands and Peatlands.
More about the functions of wetlands:
By storing water in times of excess, and releasing water gradually in times of drought, wetlands help to control and maintain river volumes. Since wetlands slow down the water running through them they help to reduce soil erosion that would occur with fast running streams. These “good deeds” done by wetlands are sometimes described as “ecosystem services” – functions that would otherwise have to be done by dams or protective structures along streambanks. Some economists try to place a dollar value on these services in order to demonstrate their value to humans, however, it is hard to put a price on the value of species that may disappear along with their wetland homes.
More about wetlands and climate change:
Wetlands play an important role in the regulation of atmospheric gases and groundwater flow. Peatlands, which make up about half of the world’s wetlands, hold (sequester) 20-30% of the carbon that is present in the Earth’s biomass. Wetlands soak up water when it is abundant and slowly release it in times of drought. This role could become even more important as weather fluctuations increase due to a changing world climate.
Resource: A 2 page news release published by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), More Wetland Conservation, Less Floods and Droughts.
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