This spring, hot temperatures and tinder-dry conditions have resulted in rampant wildfires, causing devastating property damage and smoky conditions across Canada. While wildfire is an integral part of the boreal ecosystem—in part, driving vegetation and soil dynamics—healthy peatlands can help mitigate some of the impacts.

Peatlands are wetland ecosystems that are found throughout Canada’s boreal region. They are characterized by deep, decaying vegetation deposits, or peat, built up below the ground surface. These deposits can be thousands of years old and are particularly good at holding water. For this reason, patches of peatland can remain unburned or burn at low severity and are often described as “fire refugia.” 

Keep reading here. 

Wetlands provide irreplaceable ecosystem services and are particularly important for water quality. Wetlands can act as nutrient sinks for common nutrients such as phosphorus. As water moves across the landscape, wetlands work to reduce direct surface water drainage into lakes and filter these nutrients out and store them. However, when wetlands are removed from the landscape, these areas may become a source of phosphorus and other contaminants resulting in lower water quality in lakes.  

In Alberta, many lakes in the southern parts of the province suffer from increased nutrient loading, resulting in blue-green algae blooms. Toxic blue-green algae can lead to a decline in dissolved oxygen and thus decrease habitat quality for fish and other aquatic wildlife. The removal of wetlands not only affects wildlife but can also decrease the effectiveness of water treatment facilities. Learn more about the importance of wetlands and nutrient filtering in a presentation by Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Tracy Scott here.

The Landowner Guide to the Alberta Wetland Policy helps landowners understand their rights and responsibilities when working in and around wetlands on their farm or ranch under Alberta’s Wetland Policy. If you have wetlands on your property, or if you work with people who do, the Guide will help you identify the resources and programs that can be beneficial to your work.

Learn more about the guide here.