Wetland Characterization

Wetlands play a key role in regional and global environments and are critically linked to major issues such as climate change, water quality, the hydrological and carbon cycles, and wildlife habitat and biodiversity. Their existence is crucial to maintaining a balanced hydrological system, and wetlands act as indicators of environment health. Mapping wetlands and monitoring their change in a systematic and repeatable manner for the Canadian Wetland Inventory (CWI) (Helie, 2004) are important to manage and protect significant wetland areas in Canada.