Latest investment equals more DUC wetlands on the Ontario landscape

Monday, March 4, 2024, Brampton, Ont. – Ducks Unlimited Canada is moving forward on the restoration or enhancement of 20 wetlands in 2024 thanks to a renewed commitment from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). At a March 4 news conference in Brampton, Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, announced the Government of Ontario’s continued commitment to fund wetland projects in the Great Lakes Region under the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program (WCPP).

This is the final year of the WCPP program that invested over $30 million over five years to support a wide range of projects, restoring and enhancing large-scale wetlands, smaller wetlands on marginal agricultural lands, and wetlands in more urban areas as part of municipal stormwater management.

In the first three years of WCPP funding, DUC delivered 145 projects spanning 1,831 hectares (4,524 acres). These wetland restoration projects in high priority areas improve water quality, add more habitat for at-risk species, and build climate change resiliency in communities across the province. This year DUC will receive $914K to deliver 20 wetland projects, covering approximately 90 hectares (222 acres). This includes improvements made to 10 large-scale wetlands in order to maintain the wetland infrastructure and functionality to sustain watershed health, and the delivery of another 10 small wetland restoration projects to re-establish wetlands in landscapes where they previously existed.

“Ontario’s wetlands are among the province’s most ecologically valuable and productive habitats,” Marie-Paule Godin, manager of provincial operations, DUC, said. “Ducks Unlimited Canada believes that ongoing investments and strong partnerships are critical to restoring and enhancing these valuable ecosystems and we are proud to be a partner in this collaborative effort.”

Ongoing partnerships established through the WCPP demonstrate a tangible commitment to wetland conservation. Throughout the program, DUC worked with many partners, including conservation authorities, stewardship councils, alternate land use programs and private landowners while delivering WCPP projects. Visit DUC’s interactive story map to learn more about DUC’s wetland restoration projects supported by the WCPP in the Great Lakes Region.

Wetlands are power players on the landscape, filtering sediment and helping to recharge groundwater, sequester carbon and reduce the impacts of floods and other extreme weather damage from storm and melt events. DUC research shows how restored wetlands act as phosphorus sinks, capturing nutrients before they move downstream, preventing dangerous algal blooms.

“With the continued support of the Province of Ontario and our many conservation partners we can contribute to the health, sustainability and prosperity of communities throughout southern Ontario,” Godin said.