Conservation Agreement A Milestone – for Sep. 9, 2010

The habitat on a Basswoodarea farm is now permanently protected. While all habitat is important, this easement has additional significance as it is also the 500th Conservation Agreement (CA) held by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation. “Dad was a conservationist,” said Keith Proven. “That’s what drove him to always think that the bush would stay



Wetlands Policy Needs Incentives: McPa

Policies to protect wetlands in Manitoba should not be a financial burden on farmers, a public consultation hearing was told last week. Producers should receive financial incentives to preserve wetlands. They should not be forced to do so by expensive environmental rules, according to the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association. Art Jonasson, an MCPA director, told

Farmers Putting In A Plug For Potholes

Sloughs and potholes are popping up across the landscape near Minnedosa as more wetlands are restored. Landowners who are concerned about wildlife and willing to cash in on a new habitat incentive program are responsible. “In my instance, I have been a grain farmer and now I am in cattle so I am trying to


Better Bang For The Buck Seen In Wetlands

“It’s also 10 times more cost effective potentially than the amount of money we’re investing in Winnipeg’s waste water treatment facility to remove phosphorus.” – GREG BRUCE, DUCKS UNLIMITED In a time of tight budgets and cutbacks, who will pay for preserving wetlands, natural landscapes, water quality and sequestering carbon? Greg Bruce, head of industry

Wetlands A Stew Of Unique Genetics

Every schoolkid has done the hay-infusion-in-a-jar experiment. As it turns out, the myriad critters that appear in water in which hay has been soaked for a few days are just the tip of the iceberg. Rhonda McDougall, director of planning and coordination for Manitoba Water Stewardship, who has spent many summers in hip boots wading


Funds To Restore Manitoba’s Largest Marshes

“The cost of restoring our internationally significant wetlands is small compared to the tremendous benefits they provide by improving the water quality of our great lakes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing wildlife habitat and wildliferelated recreation opportunities.” – STAN STRUTHERS, CONSERVATION MINISTER The province is strengthening its strategy for healthy waterways with an investment

Restoration Program Generates Interest

Anew program is looking at righting old wrongs while putting some cash into landowners’ pockets. The new Wetland Restoration Incentive Program (WRIP) will help local landowners to restore drained wetlands while also compensating their efforts. “For me it was a fit for pasture land,” said Gord Beddome, a Shilo-area cattle producer. Beddome recently restored the


Methane Emitter Or Carbon Sink?

“…if you drain that wetland and convert it into cropland, you’re just exchanging that methane problem for a nitrous oxide problem.” – PASCAL BADIOU Tackling the threat of global climate change is tough enough; it’s harder still when you aren’t even sure of the culprits. For example, cattle emit methane, but good grazing management practices

Richardson, Ducks Unlimited Team Up

Draining a one-acre pothole doesn’t seem like a big deal, until you realize it drains another six acres, says Bob Grant, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) manager of provincial operations. The impact on wildlife habitat, water quality and flooding is bigger than one might suspect. The need to preserve and restore wetlands is just one of