Wetland Restoration Project

Wetlands are critical to the survival of many species of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Wetlands provide essential habitat for aquatic organisms, breeding habitat for amphibians, and drinking water for terrestrial animals. The structural complexity and diversity of vegetation in wetland areas provides nesting cover for birds and foraging opportunities for a wide range of species. Wetlands are often highly productive and offer abundant forage for many species of waterfowl and mammals. Insect density is also very high in wetlands, offering abundant prey for many insectivorous bats and birds.

In North America, eighty percent of breeding bird populations and half of all threatened and endangered species rely on wetlands for some portion of their life cycle. Wetlands are particularly important for waterfowl and other birds. For different bird species at different times of the year, wetlands provide summer breeding habitat, feeding sites, moulting sites, migration stopovers, and wintering habitat.

Unfortunately, many Canadian wetlands have been destroyed by human activities. In British Columbia, just 25% of the original wetlands remain. Wetland restoration projects can be extremely valuable in creating wildlife habitat. Research indicates that restored wetlands can support similar abundance, species richness and community composition of waterfowl as natural wetlands.