Wetlands are now known to…

Wetlands are now known to play and invaluable role that has already cost Ontario billions to replace. Many of the functions they provide aren’t replaceable. Wetlands maintain water quality, absorb harmful chemicals, provide surface water during droughts, replenish aquifers, control flooding and erosion, and sequester carbon.

They also provide habitat for a wide range of plants and animals, a third of which are threatened or endangered. Many also lie on the path for migratory birds.

Wetlands contribute to the sustainability of recreational fishing, and nature tourism, which often focuses on wetlands, is a major economic driver in Ontario.

Wetland soil is also totally unsuited for development. Water still has to flow when they are filled in, and many homes built in these areas face ongoing seepage, flooding and subsidence issues.

Wetlands have been protected from development for all these reasons, and it’s extremely important that this protection is maintained across Ontario. If they’re lost to development, they’re lost forever.