Great Lakes Conservation Initiatives

Conservation initiatives are underway at many wetlands throughout the Great Lakes. As the agency responsible for the protection and management of migratory birds and nationally significant wildlife habitat, the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada (Ontario Region) is involved in many aspects of wetlands research and conservation. Some important conservation projects include:

The Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan brings together a number of government and non-governmental partners to secure and rehabilitate the remaining wetlands in the Great Lakes basin. It is a cooperative program that involves federal and provincial governments and non-government organizations in efforts to establish a comprehensive wetlands conservation program for Great Lakes wetlands.

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan * (NAWMP) is a trilateral agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico with the goal to conserve and restore about 2.4 million hectares of waterfowl habitat in North America. Great Lakes wetlands are essential habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds on their way to and from warmer climates.

The success of the NAWMP "model" has lead to the creation of a broader bird conservation initiative. The North American Bird Conservation Initiative * (NABCI) seeks to coordinate conservation efforts for shorebirds, landbirds, waterfowl and waterbirds. Many species within each of these four groups of birds rely on wetlands to fulfill a part of their life cycles.

The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture helps implement the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in Eastern Canada. Governments and non-governmental organizations like Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland are all involved in the protection and enhancement of wetland area used by migratory birds along the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways.

National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries are managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service across Canada. Together, these areas protect over 12 million hectares of land, including prairies, salt marshes, sea cliffs and Great Lakes wetlands, such as Long Point on Lake Erie, St. Clair, in Lake St. Clair, and Wye Marsh on Georgian Bay.

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