What is a wetland? 

Wetlands are among the most distinct and productive ecosystems on earth providing habitat to diverse communities of plant, animal and fish species. Wetlands also play a critical role in maintaining the health of the natural environment by filtering chemical and biological components from ground and surface water.

Wetlands are the link between land and water. They are transition zones where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the energy of the sun meet to produce unique ecosystems characterized by hydrology, soils, and vegetation – making these areas very important features of a watershed. Wetlands contribute to the natural processes that keep our water clean – including groundwater and the water in our lakes, rivers and streams.

Wetlands are home to more than one-third of North America’s threatened and endangered species. For many animals and plants, wetlands are the only places they can live. For others, wetlands provide important food, water, or shelter. Many of the North American breeding bird populations feed, nest, and raise their young in wetlands. Migratory waterfowl use wetlands as resting, feeding, breeding, or nesting grounds for at least part of the year.

Marsh: usually has thick stands of cattail, bulrush and sedge interspersed around channels or pools of open water.

Swamp: trees are the primary feature that distinguishes a swamp from a marsh. Swamps receive abundant groundwater flow and are home to water loving trees and shrubs such as spruce, cedar, hemlock, birch, willow, alder and dogwood. Swamps play an important role in the storage and slow release of water.

Bogs: big, spongy wetlands where peat accumulates. One of southern Ontario’s best-known bogs is the Sifton Bog in London. These interesting areas are not as common to southern Ontario as they are to northern Ontario where the soil composition often favours bog habitat.

Ephemeral wetlands and vernal pools: smaller standing pools of water that can be found in low lying areas in farmer’s fields and forests. These pools of water usually dry up in the summer but are very important habitat for many species of wildlife including many amphibians such as salamanders, frogs and toads.

Because we humans can’t really swim in wetlands or water-ski on them, we tend to assume wetlands are not very useful. The fact of the matter is that wetlands are essential to our ecology, our environment and the health of every living creature – even us!

Read on to find out more about wetlands and why Ducks Unlimited Canada, Conservation Ontario and the Ministry of Natural Resources are so passionate about protecting them.

Why are wetlands important?

Reasons why we should care about wetlands

• Wetlands help to filter our water, ensuring cleaner, safer drinking water for our communities.

• Wetlands act like giant sponges to trap water to reduce floods and ease drought.

• Wetlands can help to keep our groundwater clean.

• Wetlands along the shores of our Great Lakes, as well as interior lakes and streams, provide important spawning, feeding and nursery habitat for many species of fish including minnows, perch, bass and pike.

• Wetlands provide essential habitat (food, water, cover and breeding area) for much of Ontario’s wildlife.

• Wetlands provide recreational, educational and important scientific opportunities throughout Ontario.

• If you want to see nature at work, wetlands provide the best opportunity, whether you’re interested in birding, viewing wildlife, reptiles or amphibians, or seeing a fascinating and seemingly endless variety of bug-life.

• Wetlands help to store carbon, reducing the its impact on our atmosphere.