Project Profiles - Canada

The Western Boreal Forest
by Duncan Morrison, Ducks Unlimited Canada

The Western Boreal Forest is a vast and, as yet, largely unspoiled region that is home to some 13 million breeding ducks and a myriad of other wildlife. Unfortunately, this remote and long-secure reservoir of waterbird production that Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and other conservation agencies have largely taken for granted can no longer be ignored. Industrial activity, including oil and gas, forestry, mining, agriculture, hydroelectric, and other development pressures, has expanded at an increasing rate, particularly in the southern portions.

The influence of these activities and the potential effects of climate change on boreal wetland ecosystems remain largely unknown. Determining these influences is even more paramount for DUC when coupled with the decline of several waterfowl species. For example, scaup, a species that mostly breeds north of the prairies, are at a record low. Breeding boreal sea ducks, such as scoters, are also declining and no one knows why.

To address these problems, DUC unveiled the Western Boreal Forest Initiative (WBFI) in 1997 to identify and conserve the most important wetland resources and to better understand factors affecting breeding waterbirds across the more than 3 million square-kilometer region.

Today, DUC uses conservation tools such as cutting-edge satellite-based landcover technology and waterbird/water chemistry surveys to design and deliver conservation programs that include the permanent protection of wetland systems and the development and promotion of science-based sustainable development activities.

However, as Gary Stewart, manager of conservation programs for DUC's Western Boreal Region, points out, these conservation inroads would be impossible without the proactive conservation partnerships forged with industry, provincial, territorial and federal government agencies, non-governmental organizations, foundations, universities, and aboriginal groups. The Partnership of a recently funded North American Wetlands Conservation Act project is a perfect example of the cooperation needed among agencies for conservation in forest.

"The Western Boreal Forest offers conservation challenges that no single organization could effectively address," said Stewart, "but with effective partnerships, we can move closer to understanding this widespread area that has such critical importance to the continent's waterbird populations."

Stewart is also excited about the inroads conservation is making in the region. "Our planning is ecologically based and our initial priority targets are the Boreal and Taiga Plain Ecozones, which also comprise Bird Conservation Region 6 of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI)," Stewart explained.

Programs, such as the WBFI, are partnership driven and funded and adhere to the belief that the better the information, the better the land-use decisions. The operating philosophy is to share all information with all partners in an atmosphere of trust and compromise, while ensuring maintenance of ecological integrity. While DUC currently focuses on wetlands and waterbirds, Stewart is optimistic that if NABCI can enlist new funding mechanisms, the needs of many other boreal forest bird species will be addressed.

Until then, Stewart says, the WBFI will continue to foster and develop conservation partnerships for the betterment of the forest ecosystem.

"These partnerships are the only way to achieve wetland conservation goals for this critical area that is so important to many of the continent's migratory waterbirds," Stewart explained. "The WBFI is accelerating securement activities and the need for these strategic partnerships has never been greater."

For more information, contact Gary Stewart, Manager, Conservation Programs, Western Boreal Forest Region, Ducks Unlimited Canada, #200, 10720-178 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5S 1J3, (780) 489-2002, g_stewart@ducks.ca.

Partners in the Western Boreal Forest Initiative:

Ducks Unlimited Canada
Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research
North American Wetlands Conservation Act
Pew Charitable Trusts
USDA Forest Service-Office of International Programs
Government of Canada
Governments of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territory, Yukon Territory, Nunavut
Universities
Tembec, Inc.
Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries
Weyerhaeuser Canada
Slocan Industries Ltd.
Louisiana Pacific Ltd.
Aboriginal governments, boards, and organizations
Yukon Energy Corporation
Yukon Fish and Habitat Enhancement Trust, Forest Renewal British Columbia
British Columbia Hydro
SaskPower
Syncrude Canada Ltd.

New Partnership Enhances Riparian Habitat
by Tim Sopuck, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation

In Manitoba a new partnership of farmers and conservation groups is creating opportunities for enhancement of riparian habitat that will benefit a vast array of migratory birds.

The Riparian Health Council (RHC) promotes cooperation that will enhance riparian habitat in ways that also add to the sustainability of farmers' land and income base. According to Lorne Colpitts, Chief Executive Officer of the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC), "Innovative thinking from cattle producers and the participation of Manitoba North American Waterfowl Management Plan (Plan) partners have been an essential ingredient to this new private-land conservation partnership."

The RHC's main roles are to establish a vision for cooperative approaches to enhancing riparian and associated lands and to facilitate partnerships that help farmers adopt more sustainable land-use practices.

The roots of the RHC can be found in implementation of the Plan over a decade ago. With a focus on private land in the agricultural landscape, the Plan's conservation options had to make sense to farmers. As acceptance of Plan programs grew, long-standing barriers between farmers and conservation groups began to disappear.

Successful Plan initiatives also provided a template that allowed Plan partners to go beyond wetlands and associated habitats. For example, MHHC, the body that coordinates Plan implementation in Manitoba, used Plan-style approaches with a new, Canadian-funded program for riparian and associated lands. Although riparian areas cover only 3 percent of the prairie landscape, they support a majority of its biological diversity and are important habitats for migratory waterfowl, waterbirds, and landbirds.

In the last 6 years, MHHC's riparian stewardship initiative worked with individual cattle producers to improve their grazing systems and their capability to manage their riparian areas. The program has proven its worth for riparian habitat, surface-water quality, and farm operations. Surveys of participating landowners show a high level of satisfaction, and most would recommend such approaches to friends and neighbours.

One farm group that welcomed this approach was the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association (Association), which represents the Province's 14,000 cattle producers. A year ago the Association began a consultation to strengthen cooperative programs for livestock and riparian areas.

According to Wanda McFadyen, the Association's Executive Director, "We found a desire for more effective partnerships. Partners also wanted the Association to take a leadership role in the coordination of riparian initiatives. From there, the RHC emerged."

Riparian Health Council partners recently received funding from Canada's Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Initiative to help the RHC continue its work. In addition to helping coordinate partner activities, most of the funding will support stewardship activities. The focus is on establishing riparian-friendly livestock grazing systems and forage buffer strips. Complementary communication, extension, and performance monitoring activities will ensure a comprehensive approach.

"This approach holds great promise for bird habitat conservation in the agricultural landscape," said Colpitts. "With close working relationships between farmers and conservation organizations, good things will continue to happen for all birds in all habitats."

For more information, contact Tim Sopuck, Manager of Operations, The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, 1555 St. James Street, Room 200, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 1B5, (204) 784-4357, tsopuck@mhhc.mb.ca.

Growing Wild Rice for Ducks and Profit
by John Wile, Ducks Unlimited Canada

While it is exhilarating to view thousands of black ducks landing in a wild rice marsh on a September evening, it is difficult to place an economic value on this spectacle. However, when a commercial crop of wild rice is harvested from the same marsh, even the most skeptical among us can begin to see value in wetlands.

For those who manage wetlands for waterfowl, it is hard to imagine an aquatic plant more useful than wild rice. The plant is perfectly synchronized with the life cycle of ducks. In spring, wetlands containing wild rice offer food for migrating and breeding waterfowl. Leftover seed and the invertebrates that build around decomposing rice stalks provide good nutrition. The emerging rice plants are cover for flightless ducklings. During fall migration, wild rice seed is another nutritious food source.

In some parts of North America, especially in the Midwest, wild rice is a commercial agricultural crop, providing income for growers and a delicious organic food for consumers. Wild rice stands can maintain themselves for years with little management. The timing and harvesting methods are such that waterfowl and marsh wildlife are minimally affected, as airboats travel through the marshes gathering the ripe grain in bins during late August and early September. The finished product is a non-perishable food without additives. This win-win concept has prompted Ducks Unlimited Canada's (DUC) staff in Atlantic Canada to explore growing wild rice for ducks and for profit.

A main focus of DUC's work in Atlantic Canada has been the restoration of wetlands on abandoned agricultural lands situated at the head of the Bay of Fundy, along the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia borders. Most of the fresh-water wetlands created or restored on this rich alluvial soil contain the essential requirements to support wild rice stands. Some of these managed wetlands were actually built for wild rice growers in the 1970s, while others have had wild rice planted to benefit wildlife. Over 100 wetlands on 17,000 acres are currently being managed for wildlife on Bay of Fundy dike land.

The only commercial wild rice operation in Atlantic Canada is on Pisquid Pond in Prince Edward Island and is run by brothers Glen and Phillip Worth. Wishing to expand, they approached DUC about harvesting rice on DUC-managed marshes along the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia border. Ducks Unlimited Canada allowed limited harvesting on a profit-sharing basis. The profit for DUC so far has come in the form of green wild rice seed that is planted to enhance many other DUC-managed Maritime wetlands. Wild rice is also auctioned at DUC fund-raising events. In the future, should the partnership result in increased profits, DUC will use the funds to help maintain the area's managed wetlands.

The next time you enjoy the nutty flavour of wild rice, take comfort in knowing that waterfowl benefit from the same wild rice marsh.

For more information, contact John Wile, Habitat Biologist, Ducks Unlimited Canada P.O. Box 430 Amherst, Nova Scotia B4H 3Z5, (902) 667-8726, j_wile@ducks.ca.