Warner studies the dynamics of natural, restored, and created wetlands using a variety of ecological and paleoecological indicators. These methods are used to study wetland ecosystems across a variety of spatial scales and temporal scales.
Wetland strategy fraught with risks
By Barry Warner, Waterloo Chronicle, Sept. 19, 2016
In early August, the Ontario government issued a draft for a new wetland conservation strategy for the province. It contains many positive elements, not the least of which is the government's ongoing recognition of the exceptional value of wetlands and the commitment to reverse the loss of them and protect what is left.
However, they are proposing to introduce the concept of wetland offsetting.
This
is
opening
the
door
to
a
host
of
new,
expensive
and
unnecessary
challenges
that
were
considered
and
rejected
more
than
30
years
ago
when
our
first
provincial
wetland
policy
was
being
developed.
It must be rejected again. Anything less is a serious step backwards that will achieve little.
We realized from the review of other wetland conservation approaches back then that a policy of "no net loss of wetland function" was far superior. Wetland function gave us a policy that was all-encompassing in capturing the diversity of types and recognizing the interdependence and dynamism of processes that characterize and sustain wetland ecosystems.
We deliberately incorporated the concept of "wetland function" to avoid the less effective "no net loss of wetland" approach used in the United States.[...]