Wetland Stewardship in NWT A Trail Map

Transcription

1 Wetland Stewardship in NWT A Trail Map

2 Ducks Unlimited Canada has led wetland conservation efforts in Canada for the past 77 years science-based approach completed over 9500 wetland conservation projects, conserving over 2.6 million hectares of habitat

3 Why is DUC concerned about the boreal region? Key North American breeding area for 40% of waterfowl and at least 11 species 75% of all continental waterfowl in migration or molting Some species in long-term decline

4 since late 1990s DUC in NWT partnering with communities & governments including ENR and CWS research on waterfowl in the Gwich in Settlement Area, waterfowl surveys (e.g. Willow (Brackett) Lake) & early wetland inventories with Fort Good Hope in the Ramparts and other wetlands Protected Areas Strategy - membership in the Working Groups of several candidate protected areas input into policies such as NWT Water Stewardship Strategy and Action Plans and draft Conservation Area Planning documents

5 Water is life lakes rivers streams wetlands ground water

6 Water Stewardship lakes streams rivers ground water wetlands

7 areas which are seasonally or permanently waterlogged characterized by vegetation that is adapted for life in these conditions they can be treed, shrubby or open

8 5 Types or Classes of wetlands Canadian Wetland Classification System Bogs Fens Swamps Marshes Shallow Water

9 Wetland types have certain vegetation associated with them e.g. bogs Black Spruce Labrador Tea Sphagnum Moss

10 Water movement in wetlands BOGS FENS Stagnant Systems SWAMPS Slow lateral water movement Seasonally flooded vertical &horizontal movement MARSHES SHALLOW WATER Periodic drawdown Surface waters fluctuate seasonally

11 Why are wetlands important? Provide benefits or ecosystem services Vital to well-being

12 Wetlands supply clean water by filtering by filtering the largest areas surface area of freshwater

13 Wetlands are rich in biodiversity

14 Wetlands provide food and medicine for indigenous communities important to traditional culture and life ways Pat Kane photo

15 Wetlands CH4 store carbon and methane Filter water Provide floods Moderate climate change Guard against erosion Are outdoor playgrounds Provide essential habitat CO 2

16 Wetlands buffer extreme weather, holding back water in floods and storing it in droughts

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18 Southern Ontario Percent loss by township, 1800 to 2002 Wetland loss in the Prairies Percent loss, 1985 to 2001

19 Impacts on wetlands Development Urban: residential and commercial Rural: industrial e.g. mines, linear development, hydro, roads, etc. Relatively localized but can damage or destroy wetlands and nearby waters with loss of associated benefits. Climate change May be the biggest large-scale threat to wetlands in NWT In some areas, it is causing wetlands to dry up or disappear

20 Exercise: estimate change over time 20% loss of surface area of open water

21 Impacts on wetlands Scotty Creek area near Fort Simpson Research conducted by Bill Quinton s team from Wilfred Laurier University: permafrost melt can result in new wetlands development such as seismic lines can speed this up Quinton et al. (2009; 2016)

22 Two Key Principles for Wetland Stewardship Collaboration: with Water Partners - all of you and others including funders Precautionary approach: we need to be cautious in how we do development and in how we manage fish and wildlife Deh Cho K'ehondi program CBC credit

23 Trails to Wetland Stewardship Wetland Stewardship Raising awareness Identification Planning Legislation, regulations, policy Wetland Inventory Understanding Best Management Practices

24 Trails to Wetland Stewardship Raising awareness on the importance of wetlands Wetland inventory/mapping

25 Boreal Wetland Mapping

26 Trails to Wetland Stewardship Wetland inventory/mapping

27 Field Guide Downloadable as PDF can order hard copy user friendly classification go to borealforest.ca and then click on helpful resources

28 Trails to Wetland Stewardship Understand wetlands: Their importance to people, values, uses, observations of change and concerns How they function in NWT How they are changing

29 Trails to Wetland Stewardship Increase our understanding through: o collaborative research, both science and Traditional and Knowledge e.g. o GNWT/Wilfred Laurier University partnership and the potential for a wetlands focus; o research with communities o conducting inventory over time: the rate of change, o plan and adapt accordingly

30 Trails to Wetland Stewardship Adequate legislation, regulations and policy gap analysis and review of legislation in NWT provisions to protect wetlands as waters in the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act; need explicit and structured approach to how these provisions are applied DUC has worked with jurisdictions across Canada to do this, often through developing wetland policy

31 Trails to Wetland Stewardship o Ensure that development o avoids impacts on wetlands, o minimizes them when avoidance is not possible, and o compensates for damage as a last resort o How are legislative and regulatory provisions implemented? Does their implementation need to be strengthened? o Early result: specific terms, conditions and standards used in granting permits and licenses could be helpful, e.g., an expanded wetlands definition and requirements on mapping them

32 Trails to Wetland Stewardship Best Management Practices for development and industry forestry and mining) Planning processes: o Conservation Network planning o a network of interconnected areas important for species to shift their range o NWT State of the Conservation Network Report, Watersheds and Wetlands Representation indicator o Land Use Planning o Planning for species at risk

33 Conclusion Wetlands are key part of our vital and interconnected waters More focused attention on wetlands: o will help to ensure that Treaty rights to water quality and quantity and harvesting can be met o aligns with the priorities of the current territorial government to address food security and climate change o Helps to address habitat needs of Species at Risk mandated under territorial and federal legislation

34 Mahsi cho! Don t hesitate to contact us: DUC Yellowknife ; c_soto@ducks.ca