Wetlands are some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. They are an important habitat for wildlife, filter pollution, and provide flood protection. Wetlands also store large amounts of carbon. But they are one of the Earth’s most threatened ecosystem types. Once abundant throughout Canada, wetlands are now increasingly scarce in populated areas. Approximately 70 % of wetlands in southern Canada were lost prior to 1990 — and up to 98 % in densely populated areas across the country.

Wetlands play important roles such as:

• storing more carbon than any other ecosystem, with peatlands alone storing twice as much carbon as the world’s forests
• absorbing excess water — helping communities prevent floods, droughts, and adapt to climate change
• improving water quality by removing pollutants
• providing important habitat for fish and wildlife

You can make a difference by:

• participating in environmental stewardship initiatives in your area, such as removing invasive species or participating in a wildlife count like the annual bird survey
• discovering locally protected wetlands with friends and family
• raising awareness about the role and importance of wetlands to help reverse their rapid loss
• supporting wetland-conservation initiatives by donating time or money