Guide

Nature's wealth: Wetlands as filters, fuel, flood protection and food

By Marlo Campbell, Karla Zubrycki, Carolyn Kosheluk, Pascal Badiou, Shane Gabor on November 25, 2014

This publication, originally published as a news-style insert in the Winnipeg Free Press and the Brandon Sun, explores the many benefits of wetlands and showcases examples of how Manitobans enjoy and use these areas.

Four major benefits of wetlands detailed are: fuel provision, water filtration, flood protection and food provision. In particular, the value of the common wetland plant, cattail, is detailed. Additional benefits include habitat provision and carbon storage.

Specific topics covered include the use of cattail and grass-based fuel pellets to heat the City of Winnipeg’s Living Prairie Museum, efforts to improve the health of Netley-Libau Marsh, a newly developed boardwalk at Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve, landowner restoration of wetlands, emerging water management policies in Manitoba and the harvesting of cattail at Pelly’s Lake, Manitoba. In addition, a detailed graphic introduces readers to some of the species in Manitoban wetlands.

This document was created in partnership with the Lake Winnipeg Foundation and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Guide details

Topic
Water
Project
Cattail for Clean Community Waterways: Turning urban plants into compost and bioenergy
Water Innovation Centre
Focus area
Resources
Publisher
IISD, Lake Winnipeg Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Copyright
IISD, Lake Winnipeg Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2014