Ontario Improving Wetlands in Burlington and Hamilton

Jul 19

Province partnering with The Royal Botanical Garden to protect local wetlands

Burlington— The Ontario government is investing $165,000 in the Royal Botanical Garden Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project to enhance wetlands in Burlington. This project is among many wetlands projects across Ontario that are collectively receiving up to $11 million from the Wetland Conservation Partner Program this year.

“Wetlands are incredibly important to our communities. They make up the natural infrastructure that protect us from drought and flooding, while keeping water clean and providing homes for many at-risk species of plants and animals,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Working with partners like municipalities and conservation organizations, our government has supported the restoration and enhancement of an estimated 7,500 acres of wetlands in the first three years of the program – that’s about eight times the size of the Toronto Islands.”

The Wetlands Conservation Partner Program is one of the largest investments in wetland enhancement and restoration in the province’s history. Over the past five years, Ontario has invested over $30 million to support a wide range of projects, restoring and enhancing large-scale wetlands, smaller wetlands on marginal agricultural lands, and wetlands in more urban areas as part of municipal stormwater management.
“This project will help restore wetlands by removing invasive species in wetlands across Burlington and surrounding areas,” said Natalie Pierre, MPP for Burlington. “Protecting Ontario’s wetlands and water resources are vital to maintaining a healthy ecosystem and the RBG continues to do a fantastic job at restoring lands and planting wetland species native to Ontario.”

“Our government continues to demonstrate its commitment to protecting and preserving our environment through historic programs such as the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program,” said Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. “Pairing this historic program with the expertise of the Royal Botanical Gardens is a win-win for conservation efforts and Hamilton’s Cootes Paradise that will see 240 hectares of wetland enhancement as a result.”

QUICK FACTS

In the first two years of the program, an estimated $6 million of damage due to flooding has been avoided and over 170 green jobs were created in Ontario’s rural and near-urban communities to undertake restoration work.

In the first three years of the program, 18 organizations have received funding for 335 projects across the province.

An additional $1 million has recently been invested in wetland projects, resulting in a total investment of $31 million, which has taken place over five years and focuses on restoring and enhancing wetlands in the Great Lakes watersheds and supporting municipalities with stormwater management.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES