Saturday is World Wetlands Day — a global day to celebrate wetlands and the importance they have on nature and communities.
Dan Kraus, a senior conservation biologist with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, says wetlands are critical habitat to many species of wildlife.
“Here in Nova Scotia, many of the most endangered and threatened species that we have live in wetlands,” said Kraus. “They’re really important for migrating ducks and geese as places where they can stop and have their young and feed.”
Kraus said wetlands also filter water and can hold a tremendous amount of water during floods.
Healthy wetlands can reduce the damage caused by disasters and make recovery faster. Yet Earth has lost 64% to 71% of our wetlands. Let’s do our part to help nature & its protectors to save this precious ecosystem. #WorldWetlandsDay pic.twitter.com/RhyDGJbOaQ
— UN Development (@UNDP) February 2, 2019
Although Canada has more wetlands than any other country in the world, Kraus said we are losing them rapidly in southern areas where most people live.
“The Maritimes have lost about 65 per cent of our coastal salt marshes, which play a critical role not just for wildlife, but also for preventing things like storm surges and flooding, which we’re going to see more of in climate change,” he said.
Kraus said wetlands must be seen as an important part of our infrastructure.
