1. Investing in the Carbon Sink Potential of Agriculture and Wetland Sustainability Agriculture and Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative of Ducks Unlimited Canada Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada

2. To further the understanding of wetland science in support of policy related to Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) within the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF). Mission: To promote the functions and values of wetlands in sustaining the quality and quantity of water resources and biodiversity in Canada. To promote the consideration of wetland conservation as a future component of agricultural soil carbon sinks policy. Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada

3. Climate Change Impacts on Wetlands? Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada Small wetlands dry up and disappear Permanent wetlands become seasonal Agricultural activity migrates north and impacts areas of forestry and higher wetland density Security of source water quantity and quality is threatened Ecosystem biodiversity is decreased

4. Wetlands are managed by default if not by design Erosion Haying Burning Tillage Gone Forever

5. Value of Research to Ag and Forestry? Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada Evaluation of beneficial management practices (BMPs) that enhance and protect wetland ecosystem function Source water protection Biodiversity preservation and enhancement Carbon storage Integration of wetland management with agricultural and forestry management for a holistic landscape/watershed approach

6. Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada Research Approach: A program of inter-related projects Sites across the Prairie Pothole Region Establish wetland-riparian-upland transects Manipulate agricultural land management practices in the upland Address questions with a localized focus Coordination with other GHG studies

7. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Canadian Wildlife Service (EC) Ducks Unlimited Canada National Water Research Institute (EC) University of Alberta University of Manitoba University of Saskatchewan Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development Research Collaborators: Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada

8. Funding: Annual funding target $750,000 Total Annual Budget $1,340,000 Universities, NSERC Grants Industry Partners (Alberta-Pacific Forestry) BIOCAP Funding? $120,000 Policy program and Administration $150,000 Research program $50,000 BIOCAP matched funds? DUC Prairie Region Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada Government Funding

9. Rationale for Prairie/Parkland: Focus is on wetlands and riparian areas within the context of agricultural land-use - an integrated landscape approach Net balance between carbon storage and greenhouse gas flux in Prairie wetlands is unknown - knowledge gap Prairie wetlands are biologically different systems than peat lands and agricultural lands, the two proxies currently being used to estimate wetland net carbon balance Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada

10. Research Objectives: Quantify carbon storage along wetland-riparian- upland transects across the PPR (including Boreal transition/Parkland zone) Quantify greenhouse gas flux (CO 2, CH 4, and N 2 O) along same transects Identify and measure key ecological drivers that control changes in C and GHG flux in wetland and riparian areas Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada Assess spatial and temporal variability of GHG fluxes in heterogeneous wetland zones and riparian areas

11. Research Objectives: Develop a carbon model specific to prairie wetlands and riparian areas Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada Identify impacts of agricultural upland management on C storage and GHG flux in wetlands/riparian areas Identify impact of tillage through wetland basins on GHG emission and C storage during drought years Assess the effect of wetland restoration (over time 0-15 yrs, and over climatic gradient of PPR) on C storage and GHG emission Link to national scaling-up studies underway in the agricultural sector

12. St. Denis National Wildlife Area and vicinity (July 1983)

13. Landscape

14. Landscape Element ST Mid TR GE CF ST Mid GE CF TP CFS DFS CBS DBS CSH DSH Soil Organic Carbon (Mg ha -1, 0 to 60 cm) 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Field Pond 117 Pond 120 Upland soils Wetland soils Transition soils

15. Agriculture & Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Ducks Unlimited Canada Work Plan: 2001-2008 Assembly of working group GIS wetland database update Develop relations with scientific and policy communities to raise awareness Implement research and demonstration projects Share research results with national and international scientific and policy communities Identify research funding opportunities Develop support systems to assist landowners with management of their wetlands

16. Agriculture and Wetlands Greenhouse Gas Initiative Ducks Unlimited Canada