9.0 Historical Changes in the Land-Use and Wetland Availability in Old Norfolk County
Inland wetlands have numerous values to both humans and wildlife, at the ecological as well as the landscape level, each of which justifies their protection. Wetland values include:
1/ They provide feeding, breeding, brood rearing, and staging habitat for waterfowl and several other species of birds. Over 100 bird species inhabit Canada's wetlands. Hundreds of species of plants, mammals, fish, insects, amphibians, and reptiles also depend on wetlands for at least a portion of their life cycle, and the Carolinian Canada region has more endangered and rare species than any other eco-region in Canada (Reid et al. 1996).
2/ They are beneficial to the local economy in terms of game bird hunting and watching, the fur trade, and several other recreational and tourism opportunities.
3/ They act as water filters by reducing numerous contaminants to less damaging compounds. In doing so they improve water quality by reducing pollution in streams and tributaries. Even temporary wetlands which only hold water for a short time can effectively transform common farm pollutants into more benign compounds (Crumpton and van der Valk 1991).
4/ They recharge ground water which helps maintain water tables and conserve our water supply in area streams, ponds and wells. Wetlands also aid in flood control by slowing run off and storing surface water, and subsequently easing the effect of drought.
5/ Wetlands protect shorelines from erosion and trap sediments that would otherwise enter streams and tributaries.
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