X marks the spot! Maps help to locate/mark/identify all types of goods and services, geographical locations and are increasingly used in professional and community-oriented settings to pin-point sensitive ecosystems – such as wetlands.

The BC Wildlife Federation’s Puddle Project: Communities Mapping Wetlands course ran with much enthusiasm on May 8th 2010 in Horseshoe Bay. Instructors Michele Jones and Rob Knight taught classroom and outdoor skills on how to map smaller, unappreciated wetlands with GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers as well as how to upload them to an online database – the Community Mapping Network (CMN). The CMN helps communities in British Columbia and Canada map sensitive habitats and species distribution. Information is integrated from many sources to assist land-use planning and is freely available in over sixty user friendly atlases (http://cmnbc.ca/).

What’s the hype with wetland aquatic habitats and mapping them? Smaller wetlands can be even more productive than large wetlands maintaining a high diversity of species and just as much capacity for flood control and water filtration, which means cleaner drinking water and good habitat for all wildlife, fish and waterfowl species. Studies have noted that the loss of small wetlands will negatively affect the connectivity of remaining species populations. Development and threats to wetlands across BC ensue and we must map small wetlands and utilize internet databases like the CMN. As users of the environment, we need to know what ecosystems are in our backyards to help determine conservation mandates as development continues at a rapid increase. Water quality and scarcity issues are on the rise for our children if community members don’t take leadership to show that wetlands are valued. This knowledge can be gained by attending field courses like those offered by BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program.

Wetland and riparian ecosystems continue to be under-protected in Canada but BCWF addressed this shortage with community-oriented educational courses. Using tools like GPS and tracking the changes to our landscape with the CMN lays the foundation for habitat protection and conservation. Community members all over BC have become involved in many programs such as the Puddle Project. The Puddle Project is a one day introduction to GPS skills and leaves participants feeling empowered, connected to a language of technology and supported by trainers from the BCWF in their future stewardship endeavours. For more information please go to the website: www.bcwf.bc.ca/programs/wetlands  and watch for another Puddle Project course coming to a community near you!