Nature Conservancy of Canada

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) says the loss of wetlands across the country is leaving communities more vulnerable to severe weather.

World Wetlands Day was marked on Monday.

Andrew Holland, the organization’s director of external affairs, said the day served as a reminder of how important wetlands are for both local communities and the country as a whole.

He said Canada holds about a quarter of the world’s wetlands, but many have been lost to development.

“The original wetlands in southern Canada, roughly 70 per cent, have been lost to land conversion,” he said.

“They’ve been paved over, plowed or converted into roads and subdivisions.”

Holland explains the losses are even greater near cities and towns, where between 80 and 98 per cent of the original wetlands have disappeared.

He added that disappearance is now showing up in the form of heavier rains, flooding, drought and wildfire risk.

“During floods, they hold water like a big sponge,” he said.

“During wildfires, the wetlands are there and help act as a fire break.”

Wetlands also help purify drinking water and provide habitat for birds, mammals and other wildlife.

Holland said protecting drinking water is one of the most important responsibilities communities share, and wetlands play a key role in that work.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada reported $2.4 billion in insured damage from severe weather last year.

Holland elaborated that wetlands can help reduce those long‑term costs by protecting roads, homes and other infrastructure.

NCC has conserved more than 930 wetland sites across the country.

Holland said some restored wetlands were once gravel pits or agricultural land, and many can be brought back within four or five years.

He also stated that restoration work supports local contractors and creates jobs.

Holland said wetlands should be treated with the same seriousness as roads, bridges and stormwater systems because they help protect communities and reduce future costs for governments, insurers and taxpayers.

More Canadians are choosing to donate land to support conservation efforts across the country.

Andrew Holland, a national media relations director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), said many families donate land they have inherited or can no longer manage.

He said the properties often include forests, wetlands, shorelines and other natural areas that provide important habitat for wildlife.

“To date, there’s been over $1.3 billion worth of land donated in Canada through this program,” Holland said.

“So over 2,000 projects have happened since 1995.”

Holland said more people are learning about the federal Ecological Gifts Program, which provides tax incentives for landowners who donate ecologically significant property.

He said the program has helped protect areas that reduce the impacts of flooding, erosion and wildfires.

“People want to do more around land protection,” Holland said.

“They see that protecting a bit more land helps prevent erosion of our coastline areas… wildfires are happening more frequently.”

Holland said some families choose to donate land in memory of loved ones, while others want to ensure the property is preserved for future generations.

He said land donations also reduce the cost of conservation work for organizations like NCC, which would otherwise need to raise funds to purchase the land.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada says it is putting more emphasis on connecting protected areas across the country.

Andrew Holland, a national media relations director with NCC, said the organization is trying to group projects so they form larger natural corridors instead of isolated sites.

He said that the approach helps wildlife move more safely and strengthens conservation efforts over time.

“That’s the name of the game, rather than do one project here or there, we try to have them in close proximity so it gives a wider area for wildlife movement,” Holland said.

“And… it makes these areas more resilient to the impacts of erosions and, floods and wildfire.”

Holland said long‑term support from donors and partners has helped NCC protect natural areas in several provinces.

He said the work includes forests, wetlands and grasslands in regions such as Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia.

Holland said NCC has protected more than 20 million hectares across the country since 1962.

He said the group is continuing to add new projects that connect with existing parks and conservation lands, creating larger networks of habitat for wildlife.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is marking 30 years of its Green Gifts program, which offers symbolic adoptions as a holiday gift.

The program allows people to adopt one of 13 species or support conservation work in several regions across the country, including East Coast habitats.

Andrew Holland, NCC’s national media relations director, said the program appeals to people who want to give something meaningful while supporting conservation close to home.

“It’s a win‑win‑win in the sense that the person buying the Christmas gift gets a charitable tax receipt,” Holland said.

“The person receiving the gift gets a calendar, a species booklet, and a certificate in their name … and then the Nature Conservancy of Canada, we use the funds to do important conservation work in the region.”

Holland said the program has raised more than $3 million over the past three decades.

He said the money supports projects that protect forests, wetlands, grasslands and shorelines, which provide benefits such as clean air, improved water quality and natural protection from flooding and erosion.

He said people can choose species with local ties, including the Canada lynx, Blanding’s turtle and Atlantic puffin, or they can support the conservation of East Coast landscapes.

Holland said the funds also help NCC work toward its national goal of conserving an additional one million hectares by 2030.

NCC has protected more than 20 million hectares across Canada since 1962, according to Holland.

Holland said the Green Gifts program continues to play a role in that work by helping fund land purchases, land donations and the costs associated with conservation projects.