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The wetlands are an important part of the province, but how many people know the true history of the Saskatchewan wetlands?
Mitch Weegman, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s endowed chair in wetland and waterfowl conservation, joined the Evan Bray Show this week to share more information on the province’s wetlands.
“These basins, these puddles or sloughs, were formed during the ice age. Small depressions, sometimes quite large, scraped out by the glaciers.” Weegman explained.
“Then, when the ice receded, these basins filled with water and seasonally they cover the landscapes.”
Weegman said wetlands are the home to hundreds of species of plants and animals.
“They are pretty darn important, and we are interested in studying how mainly migratory birds interact with these wetlands,” he said.
Weegmain said the role of wetlands is critical for the wider ecosystem.
“They act like a sponge. They filter water. They also can provide some level of mitigation for flooding, and they’re (a) really unique ecosystem,” he said.
“They create this really bio-diverse place that all these insects and the birds and the animals that feed on these insects, so there is this really cool whole ecosystem associated with wetlands.”
Wetlands can last temporarily for a couple of weeks, but some are permanent and can last for years.
“We’re really lucky to have such a high density here in Saskatchewan,” said Weegman.
Weegman said many of Saskatchewan’s wetlands are at risk of drainage due to increasing urbanization in the province.
“We know that human changes to the landscape are adjusting the real complexities of wetlands,” he said.
“They have a very specific chemistry. They were formed over thousands of years. It’s quite easy for us to change the chemistry, change the soil type, the plant life and, of course, then the associated animals that rely on these wetlands.”
Weegman said many conservation groups across Canada, including Ducks Unlimited, are hoping to protect wetland areas so they can have a thriving ecosystem for many generations to come.
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