Wetlands occupy about 18% of the Canadian landscape and are one of the few habitat types that are found throughout the country. Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC) has had a lengthy interest in the conservation and protection of wetlands as they are critical habitats for waterfowl and other species, as well as homes to species that migrate to and from other countries throughout the year. Wetlands are often an important element in environmental assessments and land use plans. WHC has played a significant role in assessing the status of, and stress factors (e.g. climate change, land conversion) associated with, wetland conservation.

Most of Canada's wetlands consist of peatland types. Large quantities of peatlands also exist in other less developed countries, such as Russia, China and Indonesia. Because of shared habitat management interests, WHC has directed international studies on peatland conservation (e.g. the Climate Change, Forests and Peatlands Initiative in Indonesia). WHC's international work, as well as domestic projects, led to partnership initiatives with the Global Environment Centre and others to create strategic wetland/peatland conservation policies through consultations with the Conference on Parties dealing with Climate Change and Biological Diversity. Canada had already endorsed the Conventions on Climate Change and Biological Diversity, however, due to these recent partnerships, the Conventions have been amended to include specific technical references to wetland/peatland issues. These Conventions provide Canadian agencies/departments with the enhanced means of fostering the conservation of Canadian wetlands for biodiversity and climate change purposes.

Despite being important ecosystems, peatlands are, for the most part, unknown to the general public. Around the world, peatlands can offer habitats to several species, thereby helping to conserve biodiversity. At the global level, they also capture and store significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, helping to combat global warming.

Carbon dioxide is Indonesia's main greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, responsible for over 80% of total emissions. One of the major causes of carbon release is the removal of forests, especially peatland forests, for agriculture and plantations. Deep peat forests, when cleared and drained, will shrink - much like a dried up sponge - and are then prone to burning, releasing carbon into the atmosphere and destroying the peat's function as a carbon store and sink. In addition to releasing carbon, clearing peatlands destroys habitats for many species, including the endangered orangutans.

Relying on its expertise in habitat conservation and stewardship, WHC is working with Wetlands International-Indonesia Programme, with financial assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Indonesian government, and the Global Environment Centre to enhance conservation practices in Indonesian peatlands through the Climate Change, Forests and Peatlands in Indonesia (CCFPI) project.

This project is working to conserve wetland biodiversity, maintain and increase carbon storage, and improve the livelihood of current and future generations in Indonesia. Proposed measures to accomplish these objectives include the development of wetland/peatland conservation practices, alternative livelihood options, strengthening forest management policy and enforcement, forest fire prevention, forest rehabilitation, promoting low impact logging, and reduction in land conversion. Please click here to download a pdf project information sheet.

For more information on the CCFPI project, please visit the Peat Portal, or contact WHC's President, David Brackett.