An Examination of Alberta's Wetland Management Program

Abstract

Wetlands play a crucial role in buffering the effects of climate change and supporting climate adaptation and resiliency. Sustainable wetland management practices require integration into the water sector to address economic, social and environmental factors, and to address urgent contemporary complex environmental problems such as climate change. Canada’s boreal forest and boreal region affect the health of the environment worldwide by storing carbon, purifying air and water, and regulating the climate. This thesis examines Alberta’s Wetland Policy (2013) design and implementation to assess the policy’s potential to effectively conserve, restore, protect, and manage Alberta’s wetlands in order to sustain the benefits they provide to the environment, society, and economy. Transition to a province-wide wetland policy requires a foundation that integrates water resources management—made possible by the Government of Alberta’s regional land-use planning framework. An analytical framework was derived from and applied to the Alberta context (as described in Alberta government documents, supplemented by key informant experience) to examine the policy and its implementation in relation to the wise use of wetland management practices. Results indicate that Alberta tends to opt for mitigation and compensation for wetland development rather than wetland retention. There is potential for increasing the conservation of wetlands. The policy and legislative framework could support the wise use of wetlands, but there are substantial gaps in implementation. Recommendations will stress the need for functional integration across government ministries to identify ecological threshold limits and better communication with, and support for, municipalities and landowners, particularly agriculturalists.