Role of wetlands

Since the Quebec Government’s publication of The Quebec Water Policy (Quebec Government 2002),

people are increasingly realizing the importance of water as a collective heritage as well as its importance on the economical, social and biological levels. This policy also indicates a need for watershed based management and for the protection of water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

Wetlands top the list of aquatic ecosystems to protect since they play an important role in maintaining water quality and biodiversity. These wetlands are essential elements of watershed and act in the following ways:

• as natural filters that improve water quality by retaining sediments and nutritive elements;
• as natural barriers that regulate water levels and diminish the risk of flooding;
• as feeding and reproduction sites for numerous species of invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals;
• as places for hunting, fishing, hiking or bird observation(Environnement Canada, 2005).

Endangered sites
Water degradation in many great rivers of Quebec and St-Lawrence tributaries are an important issue for many watersheds.

In the last few years, the presence of wetlands in areas affected to commercial or residential development has caused many problems in the territory’s development. The threat to wetlands situated on private lands is extensive. Given that the real estate market is in full growth and that rural areas are becoming more and more attractive to city dwellers looking for secondary residences, real estate development is a major threat to wetlands.

While recognizing that tourism and development are closely tied to the economic growth of the region, protective measures must be undertaken to mitigate actual and potential threats to wetlands.

ACA believes that conservation of Wetlands is a collaborative effort not only with landowners, but with municipalities. The latter can contribute directly to the preservation of wetlands by collaborating with local conservation organizations.