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HomeNewsDucks Unlimited receives provincial funding to protect Ontario’s wetlands

Ducks Unlimited receives provincial funding to protect Ontario’s wetlands

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A provincial investment could help protect local wetlands.

The province has announced it will be providing Ducks Unlimited Canada with $1.9-million to be put towards a strategy to map, research, and restore Ontario’s wetlands. The plan is meant to stop the loss of wetlands by 2025, and start gaining them by 2030.

Head of Industry and Government Relations in Ontario Kevin Rich says this is a big step forward, as wetlands are important for a number of reasons, including their ability to mitigate floods.

The organization says wetlands naturally filter water, help keep rivers and lakes clean, and mitigate the effects of climate change.

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Ducks Unlimited says it will be working with environmental groups, industries, conservation authorities, and Indigenous representatives to create the strategy. Rich says local organizations have been very important to Ducks Unlimited’s operations in the past.

Rich says the organization is working with the MNRF to determine where the funding will be rolled out, along with priority areas.

Hastings County’s official plan includes a mandate of protecting all significant wetlands to maintain and improve water quality, assist in flood control, provide fish and wildlife habitats, and contribute to social and economic benefits for outdoor recreation and tourism. One nearby provincially significant wetland is the Conroy Marsh in Renfrew County, spanning 2,400 hectares.

If you want to get involved in protecting local wetlands, click here. You can also find a Ducks Unlimited map of wetlands in Hastings County by clicking here.

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