Nature’s wealth

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, with a specific focus on Manitoba, Canada. It details the services wetlands provide—such as flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon sequestration—while highlighting the severe loss of these ecosystems due to agriculture and urbanization. The document also explores innovative uses for cattails as bioenergy and discusses regional conservation and restoration initiatives.

• Wetlands provide critical environmental services, acting as regulators of water that reduce flooding during wet years by acting as "sponges" and easing drought effects during dry periods by slowly releasing stored water.
• Wetlands function as "the kidneys of the landscape" by filtering water and capturing nutrients like phosphorus, which prevents harmful algae blooms in lakes. In Manitoba, cattails specifically capture approximately 60 kg of nitrogen and 12 kg of phosphorus per acre.
• Wetlands are highly biodiverse ecosystems; in Canada, they support more than one third of the country's species at risk and serve as essential nesting and summer destinations for migratory birds.
• Global wetland loss has reached 50 per cent over the last century due to urbanization, industry, and agriculture. In the Canadian Prairies, losses are particularly high, exceeding 90 per cent in parts of the Red River watershed in Manitoba.
• The economic value of wetland flood storage in Manitoba is estimated at over $600 million in current dollars, with a storage capacity more than 11 times that of the 56-km long Shellmouth Reservoir.
• Cattails are being developed as a sustainable bioenergy source in Manitoba. At Pelly’s Lake, an estimated 3,800 tonnes of cattails are harvested annually to produce synthetic gas, cubes, and pellets, which offer equal or higher heating values than poplar or willow.
• The Manitoba government introduced a Surface Water Management Strategy and "Towards Sustainable Drainage" regulations to protect seasonal, semi-permanent, and permanent wetlands, adhering to a principle of "no-net-loss of wetland benefits."

APA

Badiou, P., Campbell, M., Kosheluk, C., & Zubrycki, K. (n.d.). Nature’s wealth. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/IISD-LWF-DUC-wetlands-insert.pdf

Chicago

Badiou, Pascal, Marlo Campbell, Carolyn Kosheluk, and Karla Zubrycki. Nature’s wealth. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/IISD-LWF-DUC-wetlands-insert.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Badiou |first1=Pascal |last2=Campbell |first2=Marlo |last3=Kosheluk |first3=Carolyn |last4=Zubrycki |first4=Karla |title=Nature’s wealth |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/IISD-LWF-DUC-wetlands-insert.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{badioundnatures, author = {Badiou, Pascal and Campbell, Marlo and Kosheluk, Carolyn and Zubrycki, Karla}, title = {{Nature’s wealth}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/IISD-LWF-DUC-wetlands-insert.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }