volume 27, number 4, 2006

eastern region ( )Quebec • New Brunswick • Nova Scotia

• Prince Edward Island • Newfoundland and Labrador

Quebec/atlantic

IIn the heart of the city of Miramichi, just south of the river, there’s a sad reminder that loss of wetlands is one of the consequences of urban sprawl. This sorry-looking area of shrub-swamp meadow, once a flourishing marsh, has been seriously harmed by years of agricultural ditching, draining and infilling for an adjacent retail commercial development. But all is not lost. By next summer it will be brought back to life to become the Miramichi Waterfowl Park.

With strong support from the local community, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has begun the process of restoring the 40-acre parcel of land. “We are hoping to construct two 10-acre wetland areas here that will be managed for waterfowl and other aquatic species, including shorebirds,” says Joe Harvey, DUC’s conservation program specialist in Fredericton. “We’ll also create four shallow open ponds, and install a nature trail with interpretive signage and two wildlife viewing decks.” The new park is located close to a number of schools, so it will be an ideal delivery site for outdoor classes in DUC’s Wetland Education Program.

The land was purchased for the Province by the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, and DUC will manage it. A community organization, the Miramichi River Environmental

Action Committee, has helped to shepherd the project through the regulatory process –

including a full Environmental Review and obtaining a Wetland Alteration Permit – and to promote it to the public. Many individuals in the community have also stepped forward to volunteer their support, from students at New Brunswick Community College Miramichi to the residents of a nearby retirement development.

“Eighty per cent of wetlands near major urban centres in Canada have been converted to other uses such as agriculture or urban expansion,” says Joe Harvey. “We’re trying to save those that remain, and this is a perfect opportunity. This wetland will make an excellent nature park where we can promote conservation through public visitation and education. And by securing it we are protecting it for future generations.” S

A new waterfowl park in Miramichi

e a s t e r n r e g i o n ( Q u e b e c / a t l a n t i c )

IIt was in September 1976 that Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) established itself in Québec at the invitation of Gaston Moisan, Québec’s deputy minister of tourism, fish and game. Marcel Laperle became DUC’s first director in Québec. At the time, the organization was up against two major challenges: correcting the impact of the Carillon dam development on the Ottawa River’s riparian habitats, and restoring Lavallière Bay, which had been affected by agricultural drainage.

At first, things were not always easy for this English-language organization whose arrival in Québec coincided with the election of the province’s first sovereigntist government. Then, at the beginning of the 1980s, the newly adopted Environment Quality Act stipulated that impact assessments had to be undertaken in order to obtain the necessary certificates for marshland management. Furthermore, DUC had to sail against a strong ecological current which took a dim view of any type of intervention in those environments that were considered natural. One can imagine the frustration felt by DUC’s team of biologists, whose mission consisted of restoring wetlands that had been altered by human activity.

But look at what we have accomplished since then! Today, DUC’s expertise is sought throughout Québec, and we have been able to establish quality partnerships with both governments and local organizations. Actions initially perceived as conservation efforts undertaken specifically for hunters are now recognized as an impor-tant contribution to the preservation of our natural heritage. Today, we can clearly see the merits of our wetland conservation mission and of our actions, and recognize their importance for Québec society.

DUC’s track record in Québec includes an investment of over $50 million, 165 developed sites, more than 25,000 hectares of protected wetlands and approximately 170 water control structures and pumping stations whose maintenance alone presents quite a challenge. Equally important is the significant influence which the conservation of these wetlands has had upon biological diversity, as the sites which have been conserved by DUC, especially in the southern regions of Québec, are often among the last refuges for several rare or endangered species. It would be very

difficult to accomplish these actions today, as the pressures exerted on wetlands are much greater than they were in the past. In many cities and towns, wetlands are the only available sites for industrial park expansion, for new residential areas and parking facilities. Thus the challenge is how to integrate wetland conservation into land-use planning.

Our 30th anniversary falls during the most important year to date in terms of concrete actions accomplished in Québec by DUC, today’s most highly respected conservation organization. Our conser-vation program has matured and our actions, which initially focused exclusively on the restoration of deteriorated sites, have evolved in response to the growing pressures exerted upon wetlands. Our action plan, Knowledge, Action, Awareness, now encompasses a number of needs, from the maintenance of existing sites to the implementation of new conservation initiatives using state-of-the-art technology such as geomatics. This expanded vision focuses more specifically on regional planning, the boreal forest, creating partnerships and developing awareness among landowners.

DUC is working to produce, for each of Québec’s 17 administra-tive regions, a wetland conservation plan adapted to its territory. The preparation of these regional plans is underway, and some of them are already available. The integration of wetland conservation in land-use planning at the municipal and municipalité régionale de comté or MRC (regional county municipality) levels will be greatly facilitated by this tool. This new initiative involves extensive collaboration between DUC and municipal and regional govern-ments. For example, last August, we provided the Communauté métropolitaine de Québec (Québec Metropolitan Community) and the City of Québec with a detailed map of wetlands located within their respective territories. This new information will allow these governments to better take into account the presence of ecosystems in their development plan.

The boreal forest accounts for 75 per cent of Québec’s total area and is home to 75 per cent of the province’s waterfowl. This explains the importance of undertaking research in order to draw up

Ducks Unlimited Canada celebrates 30 years of action in Québec

conservation plans. In collaboration with numerous partners, including the Canadian Boreal Initiative, we approach conservation on many levels, from the nesting site to the network of vast protected areas.

We have established an exceptional partnership with the Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife in order to acquire 5,000 hectares of waterfowl habitats, which represent a total invest-ment of $5 million over five years. The partnership will also permit the maintenance and upgrading of DUC developments on public lands along the Ottawa River, Lake St-Pierre and Lake St-François. We are implementing a modern-day approach to wet-land management, since the reproductive requirements of fish and waterfowl are integrated into the management plan, along with consideration for the entire biological diversity. This resto-ration component will involve 24 sites, representing 2,183 hect-ares of essential wetlands.

And finally, we are developing an approach with regard to pri-vate landowners in agricultural and forest regions in order to promote the importance of wetland conservation and of the role which these ecosystems play in the landowners’ own economic activities, especially through water retention for crops, reduced problems associated with erosion, improvement of water quality and replenishment of water tables.

Here you have the results of the expertise which DUC has developed over the last 30 years, an expertise which will allow for the integration of wetland conservation into land-use planning.

We would like to thank to all our volunteers, members, supporters, partners and all the landowners, as well as all those who have shown confidence in DUC and who have supported its conservation initiatives through donations or through the conservation of

wetlands on their property. S

e a s t e r n r e g i o n ( Q u e b e c / a t l a n t i c )

FNew development associate cultivates new sponsorsFunding from outside sources is the lifeblood that keeps DUC in the business of wetland conservation, and in Atlantic Canada we have traditionally raised funds at two different levels. First there is the grassroots level with events such as dinners, as well as personal donations up to $5,000. The second level is through major input from corporations, usually with donations of more than $25,000. But recently it has become clear that between these two levels there’s an intermediate source of sponsorship, which we have not yet fully exploited.

That’s why there’s a new face at our Amherst office. DUC has hired a new development associate, Ian Ripley, who will focus on raising funds in that $5,000 to $25,000 range. Ripley is a “local boy” who brings to the task a wealth of experience in technical sales, and has many ties to the farming community. He will continue to cultivate new relationships on behalf of DUC, seeking out parties interested in partnering with us.

But that’s only one aspect of his work. Another key to ensuring continued support for our conservation programs is to make sure that all our sponsors are kept well informed and that their generosity is fully recognized. “Our contributors and supporters are basically our customers,” says Ripley. “We need to look after them and provide value for their contributions. They need to know that their money is being well spent and that their support is appreciated.”

In practice, this recognition can take a variety of forms, from a simple lapel pin denoting a platinum-level sponsor to media releases and articles in Atlantic Flyway or Conservator. It means providing sponsors with regular updates on where their money is being spent, on request. It can also mean the delivery of a public “thank you” at a dinner event. And where a donation has been made in memory of a loved one, a commemorative sign or plaque is often appropriate.

We can never do too much to show our appreciation to those who support our work. S

DUC's Ian Ripley (l) with Wesley Armour (r), CEO of Armour Transportation Systems, major sponsor of Taylor Village Marsh project.

FFundraising in New Brunswick took a different turn this spring – a comic turn – when dinner events were injected with a shot of hilarity and down-home music from well-known local entertainer Jimmy Flynn. In between regular event activities, Canada’s “Ambassador of Good Cheer,” wearing trade-mark sou’wester and rubber boots, brought the house down at dinners in Norton and Grand Falls with his stand-up comedy – a guar-anteed prescription for a fun night out.

The idea of adding a new dimension to dinner events was the brainchild of Anna Maria Gulpers, DUC’s Norton/Evandale chapter secretary and treasurer who, together with chapter chair Colleen Quigg, managed to entice the entertainer to Norton in April. Flynn was very co-operative regarding costs, and the volunteers were able to keep ticket prices at regular levels by attracting some 15 extra

sponsors – individual, small business and corporate – to support the events. In May the Grand Falls chapter followed Norton’s lead with their dinner event.

Flynn’s presence drew higher atten-dances than normal. “We’re encour-aged by this success,” says Barry Burke,

Atlantic manager of event fundrais-ing. “We’re always looking for ways to improve our fundraising events and we’re hoping to arrange more entertainment. Our different chapters in Atlantic Canada are exploring a variety of options – from sports celeb-

rities to magicians to bands – starting at dinners this fall.”

For its next fundraising dinner at Evandale on Sept. 23, the Norton/Evandale chapter has engaged the popular Sussex band Gary Morris & Crossroads. S

New Brunswick chapters put more fun in fundraising

eastern region ( )

The Flyway newsletter is published by Ducks Unlimited CanadaOak Hammock Marsh Conservation CentreP.O. Box 1160, Stonewall, ManitobaR0C 2Z0 tel (204)467-3000 fax (204)467-9028toll-free 1(800)665-DUCK

Please direct your inquiries to the following:Eastern Region Atlantic: Kelly MacDonald Quebec: Bernard Filion Ontario: Lynette MaderWestern Region Prairie-Western Boreal: Marci Dube British Columbia: Ellen Baragon

Flyway production staffDirector of Communications and Marketing:Madeleine ArbezEditor: Duncan MorrisonAssistant: June FinnsonArt Director: Tye GreggGraphic Designers: Lindsay Pikta-Marie, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe

© Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2006 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres

Quebec/atlantic

area contactsManager of Provincial Operations, AtlanticTom Duffy (866) 903-8257 ext.234

Manager of Provincial Operations, QuébecBernard Filion (800) 565-1650 ext.15

Fundraising ManagerJocelyn Landry (877) 551-5757

Fundraising Eric Hansen, Québec (West) (877) 547-9494

Barry Burke, New Brunswick (888) 920-3330

Darren Hasson, Nova Scotia & PEI (888) 920-3330 ext. 4

Kelly Sandoval, Newfoundland and Labrador (877) 243-8257

Greenwing LiaisonsKim Votour, Fredericton (888) 920-3330

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