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Colin Whitfield

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Associate Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan

When wetlands are drained, carbon-rich sediments are exposed to the air, allowing rapid decomposition and the release of carbon dioxide. (Ducks Unlimited Canada)

February 16, 2026

Draining wetlands produces substantial emissions in the Canadian Prairies

Kerri Finlay, University of Regina; Colin Whitfield, University of Saskatchewan, and Lauren Bortolotti, University of Saskatchewan

Some tout wetland drainage as providing numerous benefits, including reducing emissions. This assertion is not supported by science.

Pothole wetlands play important roles in prairie ecosystems. (Shutterstock)

October 18, 2021

To be resilient, the Canadian Prairie needs lots of wetlands

Colin Whitfield, University of Saskatchewan and Christopher Spence, University of Saskatchewan

More than 40 per cent of natural wetlands in the Canadian Prairies have been lost due to drainage, and the impacts associated with this are largely unmitigated.

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Location: Saskatoon, Canada
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Joined August 31, 2021