Alberta has lost approximately 64% to 70% of its wetland area in settled regions (the White Area), with estimates of cumulative loss reaching up to 133,000 hectares over the past 40–60 years. In highly developed urban centres, such as Calgary, wetland loss exceeds 90%, while Edmonton’s loss is around 80%, reflecting intense land conversion for agriculture, cities, and infrastructure.[1][2][3][4][5]
Key Figures on Wetland Loss
- Across Alberta’s settled regions (White Area), the loss is consistently cited as 64–70% of historical wetland coverage.[2][4][6][1]
- Cumulative area lost in settled regions is about 133,000 hectares since the 1960s.[5]
- Urban wetland loss: 90% in Calgary, 80% in Edmonton.[3][5]
- Annual ongoing wetland loss rate in settled areas: 0.3–0.5% per year.[7][5]
Significance
This extensive loss in settled regions continues to undermine water storage, local biodiversity, and flood resilience, making it one of Alberta’s most critical environmental challenges.[4][2][5]
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