Editor:
The declaration of 20,682 hectares as the Fraser River delta Ramsar site gives full international recognition for this priceless, world-class ecosystem.
The Fraser River estuary was recognized in 2001 by BirdLife International as the #1 Important Bird Area out of 597 sites in Canada as the major Pacific Flyway stop-over and wintering area for millions of shorebirds and thousands of waterfowl.
Its value to shorebirds was amplified in 2004 by a Hemispheric Site declaration by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.
Provincially, key habitats in the estuary were given Wildlife Management Area protection: In 1991 the South Arm Marshes, 1995 Boundary Bay, 1998 Sturgeon Bank and 2011 Roberts Bank.
The six components in the new Fraser River delta Ramsar site are: Alaksen on Westham Island, Boundary Bay, Burns Bog, Serpentine Fen, the South Arm Marshes and Sturgeon Bank.
Congratulations to all levels of government involved in obtaining this designation.
Many groups have worked for many years to obtain protection and recognition of the values of the Fraser River delta ecosystem. Amongst them is the Boundary Bay Conservation Committee, which called for these designations 20 years ago in its booklet: Ours to Preserve.
Now we must all be vigilant to the threats and active in protective stewardship of this world-class ecosystem.
Mary Taitt
