Waterloo leads national discussion on wetland protection

With more than half of the world's wetlands destroyed over the past century, Canada is home to about a quarter of what's left, and the University of Waterloo is leading the national conversation highlighting the vital economic and environmental role of wetlands.

The University of Waterloo is bringing together international scientists, economists and policy experts to discuss wetland conservation and sustainability on Friday, January 31. As water system experts, the Ecohydrology Research Group in the Faculty of Science at Waterloo is leading the discussion.

Wetlands are the kidneys of the planet

Given that wetlands cover 14 per cent of Canada, our future and economy are dependent on the health of this unique ecosystem. Known as the kidneys of the planet, wetlands filter out excess nutrients and pollutants, such as heavy metals. They form an integral part of the climate system, contribute to the cycling of water, oxygen and carbon, provide flood protection as well as protect shorelines against coastal erosion.

"Putting wetlands and water-related ecosystem services at the centre of water management is critical to meeting the social, economic and environmental needs of a growing global population," said Professor Philippe Van Cappellen, of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Waterloo and Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ecohydrology.

University of Waterloo hosts wetlands symposium 

On Jan. 31, scientists, NGO representatives and industry experts will discuss how effective local, regional, national and international policies have been in preventing the loss of wetlands. Other topics include the economic benefits of wetlands and whether constructed wetlands can replace natural ones. The latest wetland research from various universities will also be applied to policy, industry and public awareness initiatives.

World Wetlands Day is an annual international celebration commemorating the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Ramsar Convention is a global environmental treaty signed by 168 countries to protect more than 200 million hectares of designated wetlands worldwide.

Ramsar partners with UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to raise awareness about the interdependence between water and wetlands. The Ecohydrology Research Group at Waterloo will submit a summary of the event, statistics and photos to Ramsar.

Seminars, a panel discussion and poster presentations by participants from the University of Waterloo, McGill University and McMaster University, as well as Ducks Unlimited and the David Suzuki Foundation are on the agenda.

For more details, including the program and registration, please visit the event website.