The 1971 on in Parliament Wetlands is one of the world’s first Wetlands in global conservation treaties and the There is no specific wetlands legislation in only global instrument in force dealing Ontario or Canada. Wetlands receive with water resources. indirect protection through Ontario's The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Planning Act, Fish and Wildlife Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an Conservation Act, Municipal Act, intergovernmental treaty which Endangered Species Act, Lakes and Rivers provides the framework for national Improvement Act, Conservation Land Tax action and international cooperation for Act, Conservation Authorities Act, the conservation and wise use of Environmental Assessment Act, and wetlands and their resources. There are Ontario Water Resources Act. presently 144 Contracting Parties to the Wetlands are also specifically recognized Convention, with 1401 sites, in the natural heritage protection measures totalling 122.8 million hectares, of Ontario's Planning Act. designated for inclusion in the Ramsar At the federal level, the Canada Wildlife List of Wetlands of International Act, Fisheries Act, Migratory Birds Importance. Convention Act, and Canadian Between 1900 and 1995, human water Environmental Assessment Act, provide withdrawals increased by a factor of Wetlands of Ontario some protection to wetlands through more than six, which is more than twice species and habitat conservation measures. Name of Wetland Area Date Since the rate of population growth However, other legislations, such as the (ha.) Was created In 1995, some 41% of the world’s provincial Drainage Act, still work against Long Point 3,730 24/05/82 population, or 2.3 billion people, wetland conservation by permitting inhabited river basins under water St. Claire 244 06/10/85 wetland drainage for agricultural purposes. stress. In most cases, the installation of municipal 82 of 114 watersheds studied world- Southern 25290 27/05/87 drains significantly alters the local water wide have less than 5% of their land cycle, resulting in dramatic changes to Polar Bear 2408 27/05/87 area under national protection wetland area and function. Provincial park 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water Point Pelee 1564 27/05/87 2.3 billion people currently live around rivers where there are frequent water Mer Bleue 3343 26/09/95 shortage and 1.7 billion of these people Conservation Area live in areas where water is scare 'In the face of poverty…. 1840 31/10/96 3 million die each year, many of them Provincial Wildlife children, from illnesses caused by wetlands are lifelines' Area contaminated water Minesing 6000 31/10/96 In 20th century we destroyed 50% of the world’s remaining wetlands

Canada andOntario in Canada is a huge, beautiful and diverse country, Canada is second … Did you know…? largest country in the world, with an Area 9,984,070 Km² Canada holds over 25% of the world’s Wetlands. Like rainforests and coral reefs wetlands are some of the richest plant and wildlife habitats Canada is home to nearly 25 per cent of all the in the world! wetlands on Earth. In fact, about 14 per cent of Wetlands are up there with tropical Canada’s total area is covered in wetlands. rainforests for their productivity. While that may seem like a lot, the fact is that They are found all over the world— wetlands continue to disappear every day. the only continent that does not have Wetlands naturally filter water resources, wetlands is Antarctica. Canada is improving the quality of the water Canadians fortunate to be home to more than drink and use every day. 1,270,000 square kilometres (127 Wetlands act like giant sponges, slowing the the WorldofWetlands million hectares) of wetlands. That’s flow of surface water, reducing the impact of nearly 25 per cent of all the wetlands flooding and recharging groundwater supplies. on Earth! Wetlands and vegetation form buffers that Canada holds over 20% of the separate land-use activities (such as agriculture) world’s fresh water. Its longest river, from water bodies. the Mackenzie, stretches 4241 Km. Wetlands have the potential to remove and The convention on wetlands came store greenhouse gases from the Earth’s into force for Canada on 15 May atmosphere. 1981. Canada presently has 36 sites Wetlands help to prevent soil erosion. designated as wetlands of Wetlands are a key link in the water system international importance, with a chain. Canadians have made it clear that water surface area of 13,051,501 hectares is one of our most important environmental Ontario presently has 8 sites out of issues. Wetland and water conservation is 36 sites designated as wetlands of critical if we want to keep our water healthy. international Importance with surface The next time you take a drink of water, think area of 54,419 hectares. (0.42% of about how Canada’s wetlands help to keep our total area of Canada). water clean. Dr. Paresh Pandya Unfortunately, wetland loss Wetlands are a vital part of our environment. Hindu Mandir Windsor continues in Canada. As much as 70 Unfortunately, when people think of wetlands, per cent of Canada’s original And many think of them as wastelands. This wetlands have been lost in some couldn’t be further from the truth. Faculty of Education areas of the country. That’s why we University of Windsor have to work to conserve, restore and manage Canada’s wetlands for 'In the face of poverty…. waterfowl, other wildlife and people. wetlands are lifelines'