Tag: Wetland Restoration

Wetland Revival on Pender Island Thanks to Local Landowners

Not all restoration happens in parks or protected areas. Increasingly, it’s private landowners who hold the key to restoring important habitats. On South Pender Island, one such restoration project has transformed a former soggy grazed field into an emerging wetland, showing how individual stewardship can help reverse habitat loss and support species at risk. In…
Kicking Off 2025 with Hands on Restoration and Training in the South Okanagan

The South Okanagan is one of the driest regions in British Columbia, yet it’s full of life. Alongside vibrant vineyards, sparkling lakes, and rolling grasslands, the region is home to an incredible diversity of fish and wildlife that flourish where water flows. From the smallest stream to the quietest wetland to the broadest lake, these…
Restoring Balance — Wetland Renewal at Crooked Horn Farm

In the heart of Winlaw, B.C., Crooked Horn Farm has transformed a portion of its farmland into a vibrant wetland habitat through a partnership with the Slocan River Streamkeepers, the B.C. Wildlife Federation, and two organic farm owners. This initial project, introduced in 2016 and carried into 2017 by local conservationist and Program Manager for…
Maggie’s Journey — A ‘Nuisance’ Beaver Gets a Second Chance

When the door of her enclosure swung open, Maggie the beaver wasted no time getting acquainted with her new home. After months of rehabilitation at the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, she finally returned to the wild. Maggie’s solitary rehabilitation journey was unusual because beavers typically live in pairs or in established colonies. “Normally, we would…
Volunteer-run rehab centre returns beavers to the wild

The B.C. Wildlife Federation is dedicating significant energy and attention to learning about the services beavers offer to wetlands, and how to leverage those behaviors to our mutual advantage. We visited the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (IWRS) in Summerland in July to view the society’s new Beaver Hotel, a facility dedicated to rehabilitating beavers and…
Ginty’s Pond Restoration Supports Community & Wildlife

After many years of planning, work is finally underway to restore Ginty’s Pond to an open-water ecosystem. An essential wetland habitat in the B.C. Interior, restoration efforts at this site will help protect several federally listed species at risk, including the yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii), Great Basin gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola),…
Quadra Island Schoolyard Given New Life with Wetland Build

A schoolyard on Quadra Island is being given new life as the B.C. Wildlife Federation, Quadra Island Elementary School, and School District 72 restore a historic wetland to provide habitat for native plants and animals, while also creating an outdoor classroom for students. At first glance, the school’s large sports field surrounded by towering trees…
Stars Align for 2017 Wetlands Institute — East Kootenays

For most of the summer it appeared as though the 2017 Wetlands Institute may have had to make a drastic change in scheduling and, for the first time in history, proceed without any accompanying wetland restoration projects. With B.C. experiencing the worst wildfire season ever recorded, the three restoration projects that would have made the bulk…
Across the Lower Mainland — 2016 Wetlands Institute

Did you know that up to 70% of wetlands have been lost in settled areas of Canada? In the Lower Mainland the number is even higher. Between 1827 and 1990, over 85% of wetlands were lost, mainly due to agriculture and development. With Metro Vancouver’s population expected to rise to 3.4million people by 2041 (that’s…
Restoring Wetlands in the Okanagan – 2015 Wetlands Institute

The passion for wetland restoration and protection drew participants from all over BC to the Okanagan to attend the BC Wildlife Federation’s 13th Wetlands Institute, aiming to gain the skills and knowledge needed to complete their own wetland projects. We had quite the range of participants including Biologists, Landscape Technologists and Architects, Environmental Planners, Coordinators,…