Sources of life
Group in Trout River celebrates the most important ecosystems on earth
TROUT RIVER — Wetlands may not seem like much to celebrate — an area of land where water covers the soil for all or a portion of the year – but they reduce flooding, filter out waste and pollutants, replenish drinking water, and countless species of plants and animals depend on them for survival.
The province protects 3.6 per cent of its land, but the goal is to increase this to seven per cent next year.
“The protected areas of land include wetlands,” said JulieLynn Zahavich, the stewardship coordinator for Island Nature Trust, at a presentation on ‘Celebrating P.E.I.’s Protected Wetlands in Prince County’ held Saturday afternoon.
“We wanted to share the importance of wetlands not just for wildlife but also humans,” she continued.
“They are real biodiversity hotspots where rare species of plants, animals, and other organisms thrive.”
Youth attending the presentation at the David Biggar Memorial Interpretative Centre in Trout River, learned after the talk on conservation how to build birdhouses for swallows.
“The nest boxes will be placed in the nearby Acadian marshes this spring, and then we will monitor them in the years to come to see if they are being used by the birds,” Zahavich said. “A fresh water stream runs through this area, so there’s plenty of wildlife.”
The four major types of freshwater wetland habitats found in P.E.I. include marshes, bogs, fens, and swamps.
Jeremiah Sampson, with the Kensington Scouts, said he was surprised to discover wetlands are vital for human survival.
“It was insightful,” he said. The presentation was housed in a wooden cabin, a memorial to the late David Biggar. He realized preserving the precious habitat in Trout River was imperative, according to Tammy Gorrill, supervisor for Trout River Watershed.
This year marks Island Nature Trusts 40th anniversary, and to celebrate a special fundraising event will be held at the P.E.I. Brewing Company in Charlottetown on May 10.
For more information, visit www.islandnaturetrust.ca.