Loss of wetlands in Alberta

Alberta has lost a significant proportion of its wetlands, particularly in the settled southern and central regions of the province. Approximately 60–70% of wetlands have disappeared in settled areas, with specific estimates reporting around 64% wetland loss in the so-called "White Area", which includes lands designated for agriculture, settlement, and intensive development1348. In urban centers like Calgary, up to 80–90% of prairie wetlands have been lost due to city expansion1.

The key drivers behind wetland loss in Alberta include:

• (draining and filling wetlands for crop production)

• Urban and industrial development, especially expanding cities and infrastructure

• , notably oil sands, mining, and peat extraction

• Timber harvesting and land use change

• , such as drainage and flood control148.

For example, in the Parkland Region, an estimated 61% of wetlands have been lost4. In Alberta’s oilsands region, surface mines alone are projected to destroy 56,000 hectares of wetlands by 20255.

Wetlands are critical ecosystems providing numerous services:

• and water storage

• , hosting hundreds of plant and animal species (including rare, threatened, and endangered species)36

• Carbon storage and climate regulation

• Habitat for migratory birds and mammals

The loss of wetlands has led to declines in wildlife populations, reduced water quality, increased flood risks, and diminished drought resilience, especially significant during severe drought years as in 20247.

• Alberta implemented its Wetland Policy in 2013, aiming to conserve, restore, protect, and manage wetlands278. However, the current policy does not commit to a "no-net-loss" standard; instead, it focuses on avoiding and minimizing impacts where possible, and replacing wetland value only where loss is unavoidable57.

• The Wetland Replacement Program funds the creation or restoration of wetlands to offset losses, with replacement fees required for permitted wetland destruction2.

The cumulative economic loss from wetland destruction has been estimated at billions of dollars—one calculation placed the loss at $3,650 per hectare per year, and the total historical loss at $7.7 billion (1988 dollars), representing 7% of Alberta's 1999 GDP1.

• The full extent of wetland loss in Alberta’s less-settled "Green Area" (mainly forested northern regions) is not well documented, although impacts are presumed to be significant and increasing with continued development8.

• While wetland coverage still makes up about 20% of the province's land base, the remaining wetlands are under ongoing pressure, and there is no clear evidence of net recovery in wetland area since the implementation of the current policy78.

• 60–70% of wetlands lost in settled regions ("White Area"); more limited data for northern "Green Area"

• Legacy of agricultural, urban, and industrial expansion

• Current policies do not ensure no-net-loss and rely on offsets and restoration efforts

• Losses impact biodiversity, water quality, flood control, and drought resistance1348

The ongoing challenge in Alberta is to balance economic growth with the ecological and economic value that wetlands provide, as historical loss has been substantial and current rates of loss have not been fully halted by existing policies.

1. https://wetlandsalberta.ca/wetland-loss/
2. https://www.alberta.ca/wetland-replacement-program
3. https://www.alberta.ca/wetlands-overview
4. https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildwater/wetlands/
5. https://www.pembina.org/media-release/weakened-policy-risks-destroying-thousands-hectares-alberta-wetlands
6. https://wetlandsalberta.ca/why-conserve-wetlands/
7. https://elc.ab.ca/post-library/drought-watch-2024-wetlands-drought-management-in-alberta/
8. http://www.wetlandpolicy.ca
9. https://wetland-report.abmi.ca/atlas-home/2.0-Alberta-Wetlands/2.3-Wetlands-Prairie-Region.html
10. https://www.ducks.ca/news/national/new-alberta-field-guide/