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Programs such as Natural Advantage fight myths and fears surrounding the 'kidneys of the land'

If Dr. Lee Foote was given a single statement to explain the value of wetlands to producers, he'd probably say something like this. "Wetlands are the kidneys of the land, purifying its fluids in much the same way kidneys do in the human body.

"In the process, they play critical roles in a number of areas, including human health and food production. They help recharge groundwater, improve water quality, and retain available moisture in the soil. They promote a variety of species on the land which not only aid production but provide aesthetics which can help resale value."

Although more and more producers today are recognizing these benefits and seeking a better understanding of their habitat assets, Foote, an associate professor with the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, says wetlands have historically been thought of as detrimental to the landscape.

"From a production perspective, they were considered wastelands which take valuable land out of production. But in a broader sense, there has been a fear surrounding wetlands based on mythology and misperception. We tend to fear what we don't understand."

Programs such as Natural Advantage, The On-Farm Wildlife and Biodiversity Planning Service are designed to help dispel these myths by offering producers a sense of the direct, on-the-ground benefits of wetlands and other wildlife habitat areas. The program is managed by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) with funding support provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Greencover Canada Program.

"Natural Advantage offers producers access to a team of trained specialists in the field of wildlife habitat assessment who help them identify, map and classify wildlife habitat on the property," says Foote. "But in a larger sense, it's a tool that can prompt farmers to stop and think about not just the production benefits of wetlands, but the overall quality of life wetlands can add."

What wetlands do

From a technical perspective, wetlands are low-lying areas of land covered by water frequently enough to support aquatic plants and wildlife. They are surrounded by riparian areas made up of wetland related vegetation. Together, they serve a strong biological function while, at the same time, frequently creating a powerful visual appeal.

"They're really the nuts and bolts of an ecosystem," says Foote. "In addition to their critical role in water quality and groundwater replenishment, they also slow down the flow of water across the surface. This allows more time for moisture to percolate into the soil and benefit plant life. In the process, it also allows more time for the nutrients and pollutants in the water to adhere to soil particles, fall out of suspension and later enhance plant growth."

Not surprisingly, this process results in the nutrient-rich plant life associated with wetlands, a factor that has driven many cattle producers to put their livestock on these areas for grazing. Generally, this practice is considered detrimental to the sustainability of wetlands. However, if managed carefully, Foote says wetlands can offer a powerful "insurance policy" for grazing livestock in times of drought.

"A good crop of wetland sedges, locally called slough grass, for example, can be a very good emergency source of feed for livestock," says Foote. "The key is not to overgraze and to seek specialists who can help producers manage wetlands grazing during those times when the practice is appropriate."

Finally, wetlands promote a diversity of life which often carries an innate aesthetic appeal. "Generally, when you look at pieces of land with high resale value versus those with low resale value, you quickly find that high diversity of plant and animal life is directly related to a property's appeal. People want to live where there is biodiversity."

Myths and misconceptions

Ironically, the high diversity of life that drives so much of the appeal of wetlands has also historically driven a sense of uncertainty bordering on fear. Popular culture has often played on these fears by making wetlands the setting for horror stories, with the ultimate suggestion being that they are places to be avoided or, worse, destroyed altogether.

"There's a sense of mystery surrounding wetlands that has sometimes led to fear and superstition," says Foote. "Some people don't like the insects. There's a fear of quicksand. Traditionally, we have buried our dead in wetlands and in recent times they are the areas where we have built airports, waste disposal facilities and low-cost housing."

In recent years, people have avoided wetlands for fear of contracting insect-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus. "Although there have been some West Nile cases, it doesn't appear that there is sufficient threat of a pandemic to justify the elimination of mosquito habitat such as wetlands," he says. "However, in its own way it's added to the fear surrounding these areas."

But the tide of public opinion over wetlands is turning. Education, says Foote, continues to be the fundamental driver of this change in perception. "This education has come about at many levels, be it at the grade school level with modules on wetlands for students or at the media level as part of the bigger picture of environmental awareness," says Foote.

The next generation

As consumers become more and more demanding of the environmental standards under which the food they eat is grown, wetland health will play an expanded role in their buying decisions, says Foote. "I personally know half a dozen people who will go out and look at the farm their food comes from before they buy. Environmental stewardship plays a large role in these consumers' decision to buy," he says.

Economics will certainly play a large role in the next generation of wetlands stewardship, but it's only one part of the puzzle. "Good programs which put producers in the driver's seat and give them a sense of ownership over the health of their wetlands will be key."

Service-based programs such as Natural Advantage help producers understand their habitat assets and establish goals for their farming operations that consider that habitat. "Another objective of the service is to link the producer to other programs that might provide resources and incentives for conservation action." says Kim Schmitt, Natural Advantage program manager.

Further information available

The Natural Advantage process is designed to be a simple, straightforward one for producers. The first step is to get involved in the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program. After a letter of understanding is signed by the producer, biologists analyze and classify on-farm habitat using aerial photos and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.

In the end, the producer receives a comprehensive written report based on the data gathered, including resource materials and contact information to assist with the implementation of recommendations in the report.

Further information on the Natural Advantage program is available by contacting DUC wildlife biologists Brett Boukall at 403-348-5258 or Jolene Hillson at 780-439-5145. More information on the EFP program is available at the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company (AEFP) Web site at www.AlbertaEFP.com.

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A new era of value for wetlands

What wetlands do

Myths and misconceptions

The next generation

Further information available