Wetland conservation
Published April 3, 2009
Just recently, Council passed a new policy on wetland conservation. It seems innocuous enough to pass such a policy as by and large things like this generally go unnoticed. This policy however, will have a dramatic affect on preserving our wetlands and where we have difficulty preserving them, creating new ones. The intent of the policy is to realize the goal of "No net loss of wetlands within the urban and rural areas of the County, based on municipal, community and environmental needs".
Wetlands make a significant difference to our environment in complex and innumerable ways. Here are some of the ways they help:
- reduce the greenhouse effect by acting as a carbon sink and removing CO2 from the environment;
- improve water quality by removing impurities;
- provide natural purification of water;
- reduce the effects of drought;
- recharge groundwater which is vital to our long term water supply; and
- reduce water pollution by trapping sediment, heavy metals and hydrocarbons.
There are a host of other reasons also but I am sure you grasp the idea. Though it might seem odd, wetlands also benefit our economic health and increase our quality of life. Wetlands reduce flooding and protect private property and they also increase property value. In 1998, Wetlands of Canada reported that the economic return derived from wetlands exceeds $10 billion annually in Canada. They also add beauty to the community, improve health by influencing our physical and mental well being and provide opportunities for recreation, hunting, trapping and fishing.
As a result of passing the policy, Strathcona County now has specific procedures in place to balance the loss of wetland functions. The goal of the policy is to balance any loss, through rehabilitation, of former degraded wetlands; to enhance healthy functioning wetlands; and as a last resort, to compensate for lost functions by creating wetlands where there were none before.
Whether or not we place credence in the climate change philosophy, there is a preponderance of evidence that clearly outlines the benefits of wetlands. Shakespeare once wrote "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players" or words to that effect. I firmly believe that Strathcona County is playing its part in preserving and restoring wetlands. The ecosystem of earth is a delicate balance and there is an urgent need to maintain that balance and equilibrium. Let us strive at all times to do our part in preserving our environment and in turn, make Strathcona County not only a community of choice but just a better place in which to live.
Peter Wlodarczak
Councillor, Ward 4
780-464-8146
wlodarczak@strathcona.ab.ca.
Last updated: Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page ID: 1947