A partnership between Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), communities, government, and industry is ensuring wetlands on the Wolastoq (Saint John River) remain for years to come.
It will be an investment to conserve more than 4,700 acres of wetland habitat along the river, “and is the largest investment in a single priority area in Atlantic Canada at $3 million over a 10-year time frame,” said Frank Merrill, conservation specialist for DUC.
As part of the initiative, DUC will be restoring more than 25 km of dykes, replacing water controls to conserve the river’s wetlands on more than 60 existing DUC projects along the Wolastoq and work with local Indigenous communities.
“While supporting (these communities with) traditional harvesting of wild rice on our projects,” said Merrill, as wild rice is one of several food sources wetlands provide to Indigenous peoples.
“There are many other components to this initiative, including investing in science and research to better quantify the value of the Wolastoq wetlands, which is through wetland assessments, and partnerships with local universities,” mentioned Merrill.
Merrill added the investment will also improve public accessible wetland projects such as the trail system at Gagetown Marsh.
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