Ducks Unlimited Canada Protects Key Wetlands Across Ontario
Through strategic partnerships and acquisitions, Ducks Unlimited Canada is safeguarding vital wetland ecosystems to preserve biodiversity
Ontario’s wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, but new conservation efforts are helping turn the tide.
Only 30% of our original wetlands remain in southern Ontario, with that number further dropping to 10% in the more highly developed Greater Toronto Area.1 That is why this World Wetlands Day, which was observed on February 2nd, 2025, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and its partners, announced the acquisition and protection of two significant wetland areas in Ontario.
As Ontario’s wetlands continue to face threats from both climate change and land conversion, it's critical that these areas are protected. Wetlands make up only 6% of the world’s surface area, but 40% of the world’s species call them home.
Let’s take a look at the two new wetland areas:
Biddy Creek Wetland Nature Reserve
Bordering the south side of Highway 401, in Brighton, Ontario, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Northumberland Land Trust announced they had acquired a 123.31 hectare (304.7 acres) area comprising of 65% wetland, now known as the Biddy Creek Wetland Nature Reserve. According to a press release from Ducks Unlimited Canada, this area provides critical habitat for waterfowl and many species at risk including bats, monarch butterflies, and three species of turtle. It also includes a regionally significant fen wetland, which are rare in southern Ontario.
“This acquisition will protect vital habitats for species at risk and create a lasting natural area that will provide flood protection and water filtration for the community,” said Marie-Paule Godin, in a press release, DUC’s Manager of Provincial Operations for Ontario. “We are grateful to partner with the Northumberland Land Trust to conserve this important ecological asset.”
However, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Northumberland Land Trust were not alone in their efforts. Private donors and financial support from the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants administered by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Inc., and state agencies through the Fall Flights Partnership, helped make this possible, DUC stated in a press release.
“This acquisition is a major milestone in the growth of Northumberland Land Trust. We are so grateful to our many supporters who raised almost $200,000 in less than three months.” said Rob Kennedy, in a press release, President of the Northumberland Land Trust. “With our partner, Ducks Unlimited Canada, we are able to purchase this natural habitat and protect it forever.”
Benallen Wetland Nature Preserve
Near the community of Benallen, Ontario, and adjacent to the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority’s Keppel Forest Conservation Area, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy announced the creation of the Benallen Wetland Nature Preserve. It’s a 94 hectares (232.3 acres) area, which is split into 55 hectares of wetlands and 39 hectares of hardwood forest, DUC stated in a press release.
Beth Gilhespy, CEO of the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, emphasized the importance of this conservation success, in a press release: “Our landscapes are under immense pressure from development and habitat degradation. By preserving Benallen Wetland, we’re ensuring the continued survival of numerous species that depend on these delicate ecosystems. Its preservation is a gift to biodiversity and future generations.”
The wetland is a key asset in fighting the effects of climate change, and provides crucial habitat for diverse wildlife, including herons, egrets, Snapping Turtles, Pileated Woodpeckers, and White-tail Deer. It also serves as a haven for at-risk species such as the Blue-winged Teal, Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Canada Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler.
Ontario Nature, "Wetlands," Ontario Nature, accessed February 4, 2025, https://ontarionature.org/campaigns/wetlands/.