FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Winnipeg–26 November 2014–A brand new publication is celebrating the multitude of benefits offered by Manitoba’s wetlands which include water purification, flood protection, wildlife habitat, biofuels, recreational opportunities and even food.

Nature’s Wealth is a joint release from Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Lake Winnipeg Foundation (LWF). Readers will meet research biologists, cattail experts, local farmers and other Manitobans who are making a difference – both on the land and in our shared waters.

Available online and distributed directly to select households via the Winnipeg Free Press and Brandon Sun on Nov. 29, the four-page feature delves into the ecological and economic value of wetland areas, and highlights some of the conservation, policy and research initiatives currently underway across the province.

“Wetlands support hundreds of species of insects, birds and animals, mitigate the effects of floods and droughts, and help protect water quality in the Lake Winnipeg basin,” said Dr. Pascal Badiou, a research scientist with the Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research at DUC and one of the supplement’s contributors. “My hope is that this feature captures just how amazing these ecosystems really are.”

The release of Nature’s Wealth is particularly timely, coming just days before the 39^th annual Manitoba Conservation Districts Association Conference in Brandon. DUC, IISD and LWF will be joining representatives from Manitoba’s 18 conservation districts and other organizations to discuss the theme of Water Management In Action – The Urban-Rural Connection.

“Innovative projects are happening across the landscape – many of them initiated by conservation districts and individual landowners who understand that wetlands are nature’s water management systems,” says Dr. Richard Grosshans, senior research scientist at IISD. “These Manitobans are committed to developing a holistic approach to sustainable development that will see environmental, social and economic benefits for us all. It’s exciting.”

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For more information or to schedule interviews with representatives from DUC, IISD and LWF, contact: Sumeep Bath, media and communications officer at IISD at sbath@iisd.org or (204) 958-7740.