“People will move in from elsewhere and ask ‘where’s the wildlife?’”, Steve says. “They blame the trappers, the fishermen, and the hunters but really, [the problem is] development along the rivers, houses right up to the edge, and removal of riparian habitat.”
-Steve DeRochie
Over the last century, the landscape along the Upper St. Lawrence River has changed from forests and wetlands to agricultural fields, industry, and urban areas; with that has come the transformation of the river’s edge. In many sections, these changes have hardened shorelines, affected land connectivity from one natural area to another, and left our region vulnerable to species extirpation, pollution, and climate change.
Wetlands are arguably one of the most important types of ecosystems in terms of maintaining the delicate balance of wildlife ecology, combating climate change, and storing carbon. As one of the few wetlands found along the north shore of the Upper St. Lawrence River, it’s critical that wetlands such as Cooper Marsh be maintained, restored, and protected.
When we speak about protecting these sensitive ecosystems, you may not think about trapping. And yet it does play an important role in maintaining balance, especially when you consider the activities and intentions of people like Steve, one of the few remaining trappers in the region.
“People will move in from elsewhere and ask ‘where’s the wildlife?’”, Steve says. “They blame the trappers, the fishermen, and the hunters but really, [the problem is] development along the rivers, houses right up to the edge, and removal of riparian habitat.”
-Steve DeRochie
Over the last century, the landscape along the Upper St. Lawrence River has changed from forests and wetlands to agricultural fields, industry, and urban areas; with that has come the transformation of the river’s edge. In many sections, these changes have hardened shorelines, affected land connectivity from one natural area to another, and left our region vulnerable to species extirpation, pollution, and climate change.
Wetlands are arguably one of the most important types of ecosystems in terms of maintaining the delicate balance of wildlife ecology, combating climate change, and storing carbon. As one of the few wetlands found along the north shore of the Upper St. Lawrence River, it’s critical that wetlands such as Cooper Marsh be maintained, restored, and protected.
When we speak about protecting these sensitive ecosystems, you may not think about trapping. And yet it does play an important role in maintaining balance, especially when you consider the activities and intentions of people like Steve, one of the few remaining trappers in the region.