Canada contains more wetlands than any other country in the world next to Russia. It is estimated that wetlands cover at least 15% of the Canadian landscape. Scientific research and public concern have greatly increased in recent years, largely as a result of the alarming rate at which wetlands have been disappearing in certain regions of the country, and with the realization that wetlands play a major role in the carbon cycle and global climate, and in the socio-economic base of Canada. Canada is well positioned to play a major role in international wetland issues given the large proportion of the world wetland resource situated in the country.

The Wetlands Research Centre at the University of Waterloo was approved by the University Senate in 1992 in recognition of the strength of research and teaching on wetlands being undertaken at the university.

OBJECTIVES

• to stimulate and facilitate an interdisciplinary approach for understanding the dynamics of wetlands ecosystems, both natural and created, including their geology, hydrology, geochemistry, and ecology and to contribute to the conservation, planning and management of wetlands.

• to enhance graduate and undergraduate teaching of wetland science by fostering interdisciplinary interest, collaboration, joint research projects, and establishing field sites for student use.

• to interact with government, industry, citizen groups, conservation authorities, private sector, and other agencies for the purpose of identifying research needs and future directions.

• to encourage participation in the Wetlands Research Centre's programmes by representatives from government, industry, and other agencies and to facilitate exchange programmes between the Centre and external agencies.

• to provide education programmes, seminars, workshops, symposia and professional short courses on topics of research at the Wetlands Research Centre, both within the university and with interested agencies and the general public.