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A fountain of information

Inventory is another Alberta Environment role that includes wetlands. The Ministry is working with Ducks Unlimited Canada on a comprehensive wetland inventory for Alberta that benefits many users.

The inventory details the number, area, type and status of wetlands in a landscape. “It includes both the wetlands we have now and the wetlands that have been altered or lost, so it provides an information base for planning and decision making by the Alberta Government, municipalities, environmental groups and others,” notes Robert Harrison of Alberta Environment.

The inventory has wide-ranging practical applications. Harrison says, “For instance, inventory maps are a very effective visual tool to show decision makers how many wetlands have already been lost, which often leads them to put a higher priority on preserving the remaining wetlands.” The inventory information is very valuable for scientific assessments
to answer questions like whether a landscape has enough remaining wetland habitat to support viable populations of waterfowl, or how wetland loss would affect erosion and flooding.

The information also helps in developing local on-the-ground projects. For example, DUC is using the inventory to develop habitat restoration opportunities with landowners in the inventoried watersheds. And local watershed groups can use the inventory when planning and implementing wetland projects as part of their watershed management efforts.

Alberta Environment and DUC jointly developed the inventory protocol and process, and Alberta Environment and other partners are providing funds to conduct the 10-year project.

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