Conservation Opportunities

Wetland Restoration Incentive Program

Wetlands are key components of the ecosystem and perform many functions that often go unrecognized. Wetlands can help fight climate change by storing carbon, increase an area’s resilience to climate change by improving biodiversity (the range of plants and animals in the area), store surface water which reduces flooding and allows surface water to moving through the soil and recharge groundwater aquifers, absorb nutrients and provide habitat.

The Wetland Restoration Incentive Program (WRIP) is a partnership between Manitoba Water Stewardship, Ducks Unlimited Canada and MHHC. This partnership was formed to restore former wetlands in cultivated areas of Manitoba to allow for additional carbon storage. In 2010-11 additional funds for this program are being provided by Wildlife Habitat Canada. Under this program, the landowner would receive a one-time payment to place a conservation agreement on his/her property plus the landowner will receive an ecological goods and services (EGS) payment of $200 per acre. The cost of restoring the wetland is paid for by project partners.