From Policy to Action: Education for Wetland Conservation Sharina Kennedy, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development March, 2014
Outline • What is a Wetland? • Why Wetland Conservation? • Alberta Wetland Policy Overview • Role of Education in Wetland Conservation • Key Audiences, Literacy Outcomes, and Opportunities • ESRD Role and Progress
What is a Wetland? Bog Fen Swamp Marsh Shallow Open Water
Why Wetland Conservation? • Amongst the most biologically diverse and productive habitats on earth (comparable to coral reefs and rainforests) • Their natural functions translate into many benefits for humans: – Water Quality – Hydrology – Biodiversity – Cultural and recreational
Wetland Loss • To date, Alberta has lost between 60 and 70% of wetlands within the White (settled) Area of the province. • Wetland loss in Southern Alberta has been very high • In the prairie pothole region of Canada, we have lost on average, 80 acres per day (DUC) – Restoration has occurred at a rate of 14 acres per day – For every acre we restore, we lose 5.7 • Loss in Alberta occurs at .5% annually (compared to Amazon rainforest at .4% annually)
Wetland Loss
Alberta Wetland Policy
Alberta Wetland Policy (AWP) Goal “To conserve, restore, protect, and manage Alberta’s wetlands to sustain the benefits they provide to the environment, society, and the economy.”
AWP Outcomes 1. Wetlands of the highest value are protected for the long- term benefit of all Albertans. 2. Wetlands and their benefits are conserved and restored in areas where losses have been high. 3. Wetlands are managed by avoiding and minimizing negative impacts, and, where necessary, replacing lost wetland value. 4. Wetland management considers regional context.
What Do We Mean by “Wetland Value”? Functions : Outcomes of natural wetland processes (the things that wetlands DO) + Benefits: The results of the functions that are useful to humans Wetland Value: The importance that humans place on the benefits that wetlands provide
Ecosystem Services (ES) • ES are the benefits that people get from nature and biodiversity • Provisioning • Regulating • Cultural • Supporting
Wetlands as Sponges: Flood Mitigation • One acre of wetland can store 4-5 million litres of floodwater • We lose the equivalent storage of Glenmore reservoir every 2 years due to wetland drainage in S. Alberta! (DUC) “Wetland mitigation and restoration are highly cost effective measures that should be considered as sound investments to decrease flooding in the Bow River Basin”
Wetlands: Protection from Drought Impacts
Wetlands as Nature’s Kidneys
Source: www.earthlyissues.com
AWP: Relative Wetland Value • Alberta’s wetlands are highly diverse in form, function, use, and distribution across the province – they are not all of equal value. • Wetland management decisions will be made based on relative wetland value.
Assessing Relative Wetland Value • Assessment at two levels: – “Remote-based” or provincial level assessment system is currently being developed: this will be a GIS-based map to be used for planning purposes – Site-level, “rapid” wetland assessment method (based on WESPAB) is currently being developed
Site Level Relative Wetland Value • Standards/certification process are being developed for a Qualified Wetland Science Practitioner (QWSP) to replace the current Qualified Wetland Aquatic Environment Specialist (QWAES)
WESPAB: A spreadsheet with a suite of models for assessing 14 wetland ecosystem services at a site scale. Relative Relative Specific Wetland Functions: Effectiveness of Benefits of the the Function Function Water Storage 7.89 4.21 Streamwater Cooling 2.14 6.23 Sediment Retention & Stabilization 6.62 6.95 Phosphorus Retention 5.73 6.49 Nitrate Removal 8.21 3.20 Carbon Sequestration 4.30 Organic Nutrient Export 8.29 Aquatic Invertebrate Habitat 9.44 3.69 Fish Habitat 5.26 7.81 Amphibian Habitat 6.67 3.15 Waterbird Habitat 0.00 4.20 Songbird, Raptor, & Mammal Habitat 8.77 6.14 Pollinator Habitat 5.54 5.16 Native Plant Diversity 6.42 8.19 Public Use & Recognition 6.67
Replacement Ratios The Wetland Replacement Matrix Value of Replacement Wetland D C B A Value of Lost Wetland A 8:1 4:1 2:1 1:1 B 4:1 2:1 1:1 0.5:1 C 2:1 1:1 0.5:1 0.25:1 D 1:1 0.5:1 0.25:1 0.125:1 *Ratios are expressed as hectares of wetland
Mitigation System Avoidance : Preferred response to Avoid Avoid preventing impacts on wetlands. Minimization : Where avoidance is not possible, proponents will be expected to minimize impacts on Minimize Minimize wetlands. Replacement : As a last resort, and where avoidance and minimization Replace Replace efforts are not feasible or prove ineffective, wetland replacement will be required.
As Environmental Educators, how can we encourage Avoidance as a #1 priority?
Building Wetland Literacy Capacity for personal or collective action toward wetland conservation Problem solving, critical thinking and wetland stewardship skills Attitudes of appreciation and concern for wetland sustainability Knowledge and understanding of wetland systems and relationship to human life General Awareness of the existence of wetlands and broad function Adapted from 2007 Campaign for Environmental Literacy
Overall Education Outcomes Outcome 1: Albertans understand and appreciate the social, ecological, and economic value and importance of wetlands
Overall Education Outcomes Outcome 2: Albertans understand and comply with the Alberta Wetland Policy, and undertake their role in its implementation. Photo: Aquality Environmental Consulting
Overall Education Outcomes Outcome 3: Albertans undertake wetland stewardship and conservation action through avoidance and minimization of wetland impacts first and foremost.
3 Main Opportunities for Avoidance/Minimization 1) Land Use Planning – Regional Land Use Plans, Municipal Plans, Watershed Management Plans, etc. 2) Municipal Development Authorization – Stage where land development within county is planned and authorized 3) Regulatory Approvals – Water act approvals/compliance
Key Audiences • Municipal Government and Land Developers – Planners, land managers – Land Surveyors and Realtors • Agricultural Sector and Landowners • General public and youth • GoA Staff and Wetland Management Partners – Including ESRD, ARD and other ministries – WPACs, Ducks Unlimited and other Restoration Agencies
Municipal Government/Developers Literacy Outcomes/Key Messages: - Understand how wetland conservation/restoration represents an investment in “natural capital” - E.g. Ecosystem services + natural areas increase property value - Understand and demonstrate the long-term benefit of “working with nature” (instead of against it) - E.g. naturalized storm water protection systems
Municipal Government/Developers Literacy Outcomes/Key Messages: - Develop and/or contribute to the development of land use plans that protect high value wetlands - Discourage and do not authorize development projects with significant wetland impacts - Understand the Alberta Wetland Policy and comply with it
Municipal Government/Developers Approaches: - Municipal workshop programs + toolkit on wetland management and stewardship - Land Developer/Realtor information package - Update/expand existing resources and tools - Incentive/award programs
Agricultural Sector/Landowners Literacy Outcomes/Key Messages: - Can identify and roughly classify wetlands - Understand the Alberta Wetland Policy and comply with it and associated legislation - Practice techniques to avoid and minimize wetland impacts in their operations - Understand how wetland conservation/restoration represents an investment in “natural capital” - E.g. Ecosystem services as insurance against crop/livestock loss
Agricultural Sector/Landowners Approaches: - Workshops for Ag. Fieldmen/ag sector representatives - Incentive programs (e.g. ALUS) - Update/expand existing tools and resources
“The land was very wet 30 years ago. I spent my whole life draining it. Now I’m working just as hard to bring the wetlands back. Restoring my wetlands will improve my stock water and late season grazing for our bison herd.” - Ross Adam, Grande Prairie AB
General Public/Youth Literacy Outcomes/Key Messages: – Understand and appreciate wetland functions and benefits – Understand the negative consequences of continued wetland loss – Identify wetlands near their communities; especially those of high relative value – Demonstrate active wetland stewardship – Take precaution to avoid impacts to wetlands while recreating – Experience the wetland environment – Demonstrate appreciation and concern for wetland conservation
General Public/Youth Approaches: – PSAs or media ads – “Virtual wetland tour” videos – Update/expand existing tools and resources – Lesson plans for informal/formal education – Interpretive programs – Websites/Social Media
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