Ducks Unlimited Canada. Conserving Canada s Wetlands

Transcription

1 Ducks Unlimited Canada Conserving Canada s Wetlands ESANS November 25rd, 2015

2 Wade Lewis, Head Restoration and Client Services Ducks Unlimited Canada Employee for 12 years

3

4 Original Concept of Ducks Unlimited Funds invested in Canada Funds raised in USA

5 Ducks Unlimited business model has evolved Fundraising started in 1970s Habitat conservation work started 1984

6 DUC s Priorities #1-Wetland Conservation- Restoration, Securement and Management #2-Public Policy- Federal and Provincial Wetland Policies #3-Research- Science based conservation #4-Education- Public Environmental Education

7 Leader in Wetland Conservation in Canada for more than 70 year DUC is active in every province and territory 6.1 million acres of habitat conserved by DUC and 62 million acres protected through policy 8,700 habitat projects completed 18,500 Canadian landowners have conserved habitat in partnership with DUC

8 Wetlands provide clean water, reduce flooding and erosion and greater biodiversity

9 Wetlands are Key to Watershed Health Wetlands are natural filters. Wetlands remove excess nutrients Nitrates- 87% retention and Phosphorus-95% retention in wetlands

10 Wetlands provide recreational opportunities

11 Grassroots Support 600 Annual events across Canada 157,000 Supporters 7,000 Volunteers 47,450 Children 17 years and under enrolled in youth education programs

12 Where the money is spent: Public Education (6 /o) -- Fundraising & Admin istration (10 /o) - Habitat & Research (84o/o) -

13 DUC Reputation Cooperation vs. confrontation

14 Government and Corporate partnerships

15 Atlantic Habitat Partnership Initiative Atlantic Canada DUC Projects Number of Projects: 1,900 Total Acres: 120,000 acres Total DUC Investment: $90 million DUC Investments in NS Over $30 million in wetland conservation 44,000 acres conserved on over 500 projects Managed wetland require dykes, water control structure and fish ladders.

16 Missaquash Marsh-6000 acres

17 River Herbert Project, NS Wastewater Treatment Wetland

18 Wetland Interpretive Centre at Provincial Wildlife Park 100,000+ Visitors Annually

19 DUC RestorationServices Restoring Aquatic Habitats

20 What is Restoration Service? A service available to private individuals, companies or Government departments. Delivers wetland compensation projects triggered by habitat loss or alteration, through the regulatory process.

21 Compensation A physical process for replacing habitat lost to development or other activities. In issuance of a permit to alter or destroy wetlands, regulatory agencies require the permit-holder to first attempt to avoid impacts. If avoidance is not deemed possible, then compensation is required.

22 Atlantic Habitat Partnership Initiative Restoration Services Restoring Aquatic Habitats Wh y Ducks Unlimited Canada? Experience- Leader in Wetland Conservation Trusted Provincial Governments Partner- Helped Develop Wetland Policy Signed Agreements- With New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI to deliver wetland compensation projects. DUC Restoration Services Program

23 Signed MOU Agreements with Provincial Governments

24 Client List Department of National Defense Department of Fisheries and Oceans- Small Craft Harbours NB Department of Transportation NB Department of Environment NS Department of Transportation and Infrastructure NS Department of Environment PEI Department of Environment Municipal and Private Sector Town of Sussex, NB, Town of GrandBay-Westfield, Stantec, Amec, Maritime Testing, Dillion Consulting, Lafarge Canada, NB Power, Halifax International Airport, Moncton International Airport, Armoc Capital, BANC Developments, Strum Environmental

25 DUC Experience Conservation Allowance / Off-sets Wetland Restoration Provincial Wetland Conservation Policies HADD Compensation DFO regulatory requirement. Restorative / Non-restorative

26 Wetland Compensation Methods 1.Restorative Methods: enhancement or construction of replacement wetlands DUC agrees to monitor and maintain restoration projects for 30 years Yearly inspections of all restoration projects and any required maintenance is performed

27 Atlantic Habitat Partnership Initiative DUC Atlantic Restoration Services Program Creamery Brook, Brookfield, NS Client: Lafarge

28 Wetland Compensation Methods 2. Non-restorative Methods: alternatives that support maintenance of wetland value Wetland inventory development and data acquisition Wetland securement for long term protection Wetland education and awareness Wetland research and monitoring

29 Salt Marsh Restoration DUC have been restoring salt marsh habitat since 2000 Ten projects have been completed in Atlantic Canada, including the largest salt marsh restoration project in Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland Creek (194 acres) Over 650 acres of salt marsh habitat restored

30 Salt Marsh Restoration Impacts to salt marshes in Atlantic Canada have been severe They are important for improving water quality, protection against sea-level rise and storm surges, and providing critical habitat for species including rare and endangered species Offer opportunities for science and research partnership projects by monitored changes in vegetation, sedimentation, invertebrates and water chemistry as the habitat restores to salt marsh

31 DUC Atlantic Education Our education program mission is to foster awareness about the value of wetlands and encourage support for their conservation. Project Webfoot- Classes participate in hands-on activities, such as bird watching, catching aquatic invertebrates with nets, nature hikes and playing ecological games. These give youth the opportunity to fully experience a wetland while instilling an appreciation for these natural habitats

32 DUC Atlantic Education Wetland Centers of Excellence Program-through the WCE program, DUC partners with schools to steward a local wetland through hands on action projects Interpretive Centers- Ex: DUC Interpretative Center in Shubenacadie, NS. Features; wetland trails, education programs, special interested groups (brownies, scouts etc.), special speakers and events. Approximately 100,000 visitors annually

33 DUC- Communications and Public Relations Conservator magazine including a specific section on Atlantic Canada which focuses on stories on science, education and research. Pond Press and Atlantic Connections are local newsletters and they promote research, science and supporter activities The supporter calendar highlights supporter partners and support activities Social media is used for campaigning and awareness to promote wetland conservation

34 DUC- Science and Research Research and educational partnerships for student from local universities at the honours, Master s and Doctorate level. Currently DUC partners with the University of Acadia at the Beaubassin Research Station (BRC) Projects include the Research Cells which were created at BRC to test the success of varying restoration techniques. The cells are monitored for changes in water chemistry, sediment accumulation and vegetation communities which can provide insight on how DUC can improve and enhance restoration projects in the future

35 DUC- Science and Research Partnership with the University of New Brunswick on the Aulac Salt Marsh Restoration Project. Variables such as, sediment accumulation and vegetation changes were monitored throughout the transition period. Rates and amounts of deposition were monitored and vegetation species were catalogued in order to track changes in vegetation communities. Monitoring was compared to reference salt marshes adjacent to the site

36 Thank You. Questions?