Definitions:

Definitions:
Conservation: planned management and wise use of resources to ensure that they are available for future generations.
Disinicentive: barrier to positive action, or incentive to perform a harmful behaviour (eg., a program to promote wetland drainage).
Incentive: enticement that encourages decisions that protect and conserve wetlands (e.g., financial assistance to implement best management practices)
No net loss: policy in which wetlands must be created or restored for those destroyed.
Protection: keeping a wetland in a natural state by preventing any activity that would impact the wetland; synonymous with preservation.
Restoration: Re-establishing a wetland that has been drained or degraded into a functioning ecosystem whose characteristics are as close as possible to pre-disturbance conditions.
Significant: wetlands with local, provincial, national or international importance for one or more reasons.
Wetland: areas that are periodically or permanently inundated by surface or ground water long enough to develop characteristics such as wet altered soils, water tolerant vegetation, and biological activity adapted to a wet environment. Wetland types include marshes, shallow open water, bogs, fens and swamps.
Sustainable Use: management of resources that ensures present needs are met, and the capacity of the resource is maintained so that the ability of future generations to benefit from these resources is not compromised.

Page 1

Wetlands: Benefits and THREATS:

1. I have seen or visited a wetland in the last five (5) years.

yes no not sure or no opinion

2. When I visit a wetland, I generally like to _______.(please check all that apply).

farm fish
hunt or trap look for/collect plants or wild flowers
photography watch for birds or other wildlife
participate in motized recreation participate in non-motorized recreation
other:
I have never been to a wetland

3. Society experiences the following benefits from wetlands.

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
carbon storage
flood control
groundwater supply
water quality
hunting fishing or trapping
soil erosion prevention
wildlife habitat
biodiversity
cultural or spiritual
tourism and recreation
commercial use
education and research
aesthetics
other:

Page 2

Wetlands: Benefits and THREATS:

4. I experience the following benefits from wetlands.

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
carbon storage
flood control
groundwater supply
water quality
hunting fishing or trapping
soil erosion prevention
wildlife habitat
biodiversity
cultural or spiritual
tourism and recreation
commercial use
education and research
aesthetics
other:

5. I think that wetlands in Manitoba are ____________ threatened.

not somewhat greatly not sure or no opinion

6. The following activity or factor is a threat to wetlands.

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
non-native plants/wildlife species
annual cropping
grazing livestock
intensive livestock
country residential (subdivision of lots)
urban growth
new roads
hydro development
natural resource use (forestry/mining)
industrial development
pollution runoff (streams/rivers)
climate change
other:

Page 3

Wetlands: Benefits and THREATS:

7. When considering all of the benefits of and threats to wetlands mentioned in this section I consider wetland conservation to be important, even if it means foregoing other land use activities on that land.

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
Any additional comments about wetland benefits and threats?
Wetland Conservation:

8. Wetland conservation involves the planned management and wise use of wetland resources in such a way that ensures that they are availabe for future generations. I have heard of the following conservation programs:
(please check all that apply)

ALUS (alternative land use services) Manitoba Heritage Marsh Program Wetland Restoration Incentive Program Riparian Stewardship Program Green Banks Program North American Waterfowl Management Plan
Ducks Unlimited Wetland Conservation Program Conservation Agreements haven't heard of any other

9. Wetland conservation should be paid for by ________.(please check all that apply)

property taxes income taxes commercial fees drainage license fees fishing/hunting license fees
lottery revenues donations to conservation groups whoever degrades the wetland should pay for the restoration not sure or no opinion other:

Page 4

Wetland Policy:

10. Wetland restoration involves re-establishing a previously drained wetland into a functioning ecosystem whose characteristics are as close as possible to pre-disturbance conditions. Wetland restoration should be paid for by ______.
(please check all that apply)

property taxes income taxes commercial fees drainage license fees fishing/hunting license fees
lottery revenues donations to conservation groups whoever degrades the wetland should pay for the restoration not sure or no opinion other:

11. How much financial responsibility shoud fall on private landowners to conserve wetlands on their property?

none some all not sure or no opinion

12. How much financial responsibility should fall on society to conserve wetlands on private property?

none some all not sure or no opinion

13. If programs were developed to share the costs of wetland protection and restoration, I would expect the following to contribute funding:

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
federal government
provincial government
municipal government
private landowners
conservation groups
other:

Any additional comments about wetland conservation?

Page 5

Wetland Policy

14. I feel it is very important to include the following in a wetland policy:

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
land use and water planning
sustainable use
no net loss
allow some loss for development purposes
protection of significant wetlands
protecting from conversion to other uses
restoration
financial incentives to protect wetlands
regulations to protect wetlands
best management practices (agriculture)
education
other:

15. I consider developing a wetland policy for Manitoba to be __________ urgent.

extremely somewhat not not sure or no opinion

16. I feel the following are in the best position to do the work involved in restoring Manitoba's wetlands, regardless of who pays:

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
federal government
provincial government
municipal or local government
conservation groups
private landowners
other:

Page 6

Wetland Policy

17. I feel the following are effective strategies for wetland conservation:

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion
land acquisition (purchase)
awareness and education
laws and regulations
stewardship agreements
incentives
restoration

18. A review should be done on existing disincentives for wetland protection, conservation and restoration, and steps taken to eliminate them.

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion

19. Any new wetland policy must be successfully integrated with the legislation, policies and programs of the Government of Manitoba.

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree no opinion

What advice would you provide to the Government of Manitoba on wetlands and wetland policy?

Page 7

Personal Information

The collection of this information is authorized under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and is being managed in accordance with FIPPA.

20. I am a male female

21. I live in a _________.(check only one)

city town or village municipaal district or country
northern community other:

22. Which would best describe your perspective? (check only one)

Business/industry Government
forestry local
mining/exploration provincial
agriculture federal
oil and gas aboriginal
professional services Interest/advocacy group
educational/research Multi-stakeholder organization
Private citizen other:

23. Do you currently own or lease any property with wetlands, that is, land that is covered by water, either permanently or seasonally?

yes no not sure or no opinion

24. If yes, then approximately how many acres are wetlands?

Page 8

Personal Information

25. Prior to receiving this information, I learnt about Manitoba wetlands from ____. (please check all that apply)

living near a wetland travelling in Manitoba the Internet newspapers or magazines
in a school, college or university television or radio through friends or relatives no previous wetland knowledge

26. What would be the best way to inform Manitobans about wetlands?
(please check all that apply)

ad in local newspaper ad in other print (flyers / magazine) billboard ad direct mail Internet
e-mail public open houses radio commercial TV commercial with my utility bill other: