On World Wetlands Day, NCC and partners protect wetlands which store water, reduce flood risk and support resilient communities
Ottawa, ON (February 2, 2026) – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is announcing the conservation of a 91-hectare wetland and forest property on the east side of the Marlborough Wetland, an extensive Provincially Significant Wetland in Ottawa. The newly conserved area strengthens the natural infrastructure that helps lower flood risk for area communities, safeguards wildlife habitat and supports the quality supports the quality of life for people in the Ottawa region.
Wetlands act like natural sponges, absorbing heavy rainfall and snowmelt, holding water on the landscape and releasing it slowly downstream. This lowers peak flows, reduces flooding in communities and keeps water cleaner. Conserving the Marlborough Wetland protects a key piece of Ottawa’s natural infrastructure and complements local investments in climate adaptation and resilience. It also supports biodiversity, stores carbon and offers places for people to connect with nature close to home.
Expanding a connected, resilient landscape
This project adds to a network of over 8,100 hectares of conserved lands in the area, improving ecological connectivity between forest and wetland habitats and enhancing the landscape’s ability to store water, support wildlife and buffer communities from extreme weather.
Thanks in part to a generous land donation by the late Doug Smith, through the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program, which provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land, the wetland will be cared for in perpetuity. NCC is also grateful for support from the City of Ottawa and Intact Financial Corporation, whose partnerships underscore the importance of practical nature‑based solutions, which help communities prepare for severe weather and build a more resilient future.
Alongside the Marlborough Wetland project in Ontario, NCC is marking World Wetlands Day (February 2) with a conservation announcement in Prince Edward Island. NCC has helped conserve more than 166,100 hectares of wetlands across Canada, supporting resilient communities from coast to coast to coast.
Quotes
“Every conserved wetland is a promise to our community and to the next generation. We are grateful to the donor whose vision made this possible, and to the City of Ottawa and Intact Financial Corporation for their support. Together, we have protected a wetland which reduces flood risk and delivers benefits for people and nature.” — Rob McRae, Program Director – Eastern Ontario, Nature Conservancy of Canada
“Doug Smith, who left us in May 2025, made a choice in the time he had left that reflected his deepest love for the land, the trees, and the wild spaces he cherished. Doug made clear his intention to protect this place he loved most, a place that he knew as intimately as one knows an old friend. It’s comforting to know that these lands will continue just as he liked them. The deer will still cross at dusk, the pines will still whisper in the summer heat, the wildflowers will still burn bright and provide for the bees in June, and the maples will still blaze in October. It’s a legacy worth honouring. His gift is a reminder that loving something means protecting it, and that the most lasting monuments are not carved in stone but rooted in soil and safeguarded for generations. May the land he cherished stay wild, stay quiet, and stay free. It is, without question, exactly what he wanted — his stewardship of the land lives on.” — Karen McCulloch
“Protecting the Marlborough Wetland is an investment in Ottawa’s future. It helps control flooding, purify water, recharge our ground water and it is home to various wildlife. Thanks to the work of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, it will continue to be that way for years to come. We are proud to support partnerships that use nature-based solutions to build more resilient communities and preserve the natural heritage of rural Ottawa.” — Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa
“We’re proud to be a part of this conservation win through our 5-year $8 million partnership with the NCC, which has already helped to protect over 13,000 hectares of critical ecosystems in Canada. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to building more climate resilient communities with proven, nature-based solutions. By protecting the Marlborough wetlands, we’re helping to safeguard the Ottawa region from flood risks while laying a foundation for resilience in the face of a changing climate.” — Mandy Dennison, Vice President, Social Impact & ESG, Intact Financial Corporation
“Protecting these 91 hectares of wetlands and forests strengthens climate resilience, supports wildlife and helps safeguard communities. Marking this achievement on World Wetlands Day reflects the importance of working together to protect the natural spaces Canadians rely on.” — The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature
“Wetlands are among our most vital natural ecosystems, and this conservation achievement shows what we can accomplish through partnerships with organizations like the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Protecting this land honours Doug Smith’s generosity and ensures that it continues to provide critical benefits: supporting wildlife, storing carbon and reducing flood risks in the Ottawa region. On this World Wetlands Day, this is a meaningful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in nature.” — The Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)
Facts
- Community flood benefits: Wetlands are natural infrastructure, retaining and slowly releasing water, lowering peak flows during storms and spring melt, and reducing flood risk downstream.
- Biodiversity: The Marlborough Wetland provides habitat for reptiles, such as midland painted turtle, and birds, such as bobolink, eastern meadowlark and wood thrush, all of which are species at risk, along with other species of note, such as bald eagle, black bear, moose and osprey.
- Carbon and climate: Wetlands store carbon and moderate local climate, supporting resilient communities and landscapes.
- Stewardship: NCC will prepare an inventory of the property to document its natural and human features, which will inform long-term site management and habitat restoration activities.
About
Since 1962, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has brought people together to protect the lands and waters that sustain us all. As an environmental charity working hand in hand with communities, Indigenous Nations, governments and businesses, we deliver nature-based solutions at a scale no one else can. Our conservation work safeguards clean air and water, stores carbon and reduces the risks of floods and wildfires — protecting our health, strengthening local economies and building more resilient communities. Together, we unlock nature’s power, so life can thrive. Learn more at natureconservancy.ca.
Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program provides a way for Canadians with ecologically sensitive land to protect nature and leave a legacy for future generations. Made possible by the terms of the Income Tax Act of Canada and the Quebec Taxation Act, it offers significant tax benefits to landowners who donate land or a partial interest in land to a qualified recipient. Recipients ensure that the land’s biodiversity and environmental heritage are conserved in perpetuity.
To learn more about the Ecological Gifts Program, please visit https://www.canada.ca/ecological-gifts.
Contact
Brianne Curry
Communications Manager, Ontario Region
Nature Conservancy of Canada
C: 519-520-1340
brianne.curry@natureconservancy.ca