DUC Wetland Resources | Stewardship Association of Municipalities

SAM has a long history of working with the partners of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) towards our mutual objectives - one of those partners is Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

DUC has been committed to conserving, restoring and managing wetlands and associated habitats for the benefit of North America’s waterfowl for 85+ years. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. DUC is a passionate community of people who believe that nature is the foundation of strong communities, a prosperous economy and a sustainable future that supports the hopes and dreams of the next generation. They work to conserve and restore some of the most valuable and threatened landscapes on the planet.

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DUC has developed a collection of "Best Management Practices for Development around Wetlands", which also aligns with SAM's objectives - to encourage municipalities to seek a balance between development and conservation of land.

The purpose of this document is to highlight the best management practices for developing around non-tidal wetlands. The services and functions provided by wetlands can be degraded or lost by disturbance or encroachment upon wetlands and their buffer zones. This document focuses on Avoidance as a primary strategy, followed by Minimization/Mitigation as a secondary option, with Restoration/Remediation as a last resort.

DUC, with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Community Based Climate Action Program, partnered with the Town of Torbay to conduct assessments on 40 wetlands within the municipality using the Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol for Atlantic Canada (WESP-AC). The goal of this project is to provide municipal councilors, planners, and policymakers with valuable information regarding the functions, benefits, and overall health of wetlands within Torbay’s municipal planning area to help guide development strategies, management policies, and/or potential opportunities for future conservation. This information will also serve to identify the utility that wetlands serve in providing municipal services and mitigating the effects of climate change as natural assets. By assessing wetlands in both urban and undeveloped areas, Torbay Council and planning staff will have the opportunity to explore how developments impact the benefits served by wetlands, as well as providing planners with baseline data from which to examine the effects of development through further monitoring. This data will also highlight the value of wetlands in the Town of Torbay as natural assets.

Town of Torbay Wetland Assessment Report

DUC Wetland Resources