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417 The following is a list of internationally important wetlands that contain tidal wetlands and is a subset of a more complete listing designated in accordance with the Ramsar Convention (www.ramsar.org). The list is intended to establish a global network of significant wetlands for the conservation of biodiversity and for sustaining human life through their maintenance of ecosystem components, processes, and environmental services (benefits to humankind). Canadian Sites Alaksen (British Columbia; 1,448 acres [586 ha]). Part of the Fraser River delta; used by waterbirds migrating between­ Arctic breeding grounds and southern­ wintering grounds: up to 40,000 geese of the Wrangel Island breeding population and up to one million other shorebirds stage and winter here, with up to 25,000 ducks in fall and 10,000 surf scoters congregating to feed on the tidal flats in late summer. Baie de l’Isle-Verte (Québec; 5,473 acres [2,215 ha]). Contains some of the lastremaining , unreclaimed salt marsh along the St. Lawrence River; important breeding habitat for black duck and serves as an important resting and feeding site for large numbers of migratory ducks, geese, and swans, particularly in spring; heavy shorebird use: 35,000 in spring and 10,000 in fall. Appendix A List of North American Wetlands of International Importance: Tidal Wetlands Cap Tourmente (Québec; 5,926 acres [2,398 ha]). Includes one-third of the remaining high-quality common threesquare marshes of the St. Lawrence Estuary; vital staging grounds for greater snow geese (30% or more of world’s population; to >1 million individuals) and thousands of ducks during fall migration to feed and pass through in spring; 700 plant species have been recorded (several rare), many reaching their northern limit. Chignecto (Nova Scotia; 2,520 acres [1,020 ha]). Half the site consists of salt marsh; an important staging area for Canada geese (up to 6,000) and three species of ducks during spring migration; breeding by black ducks and greater yellowlegs. Grand Codroy Estuary (Newfoundland; 2,286 acres [925 ha]). One of the most productive of Newfoundland’s few estuarine wetland sites; mudflats support rich eelgrass beds—an important food source for up to 3,000 fall-staging Canada geese and >1,000 black ducks. Malpeque Bay (Prince Edward Island; 60,390 acres [24,440 ha]). An estuarine embayment of extensive shallow open water, intertidal flats, and islands, fringed in places by salt marsh; intertidal flats support eelgrass beds; up to 20,000 Canada geese stage here in spring and fall; supports the largest great blue heron nesting colony in 418  Appendix A the ­ province; also nesting by cormorants; seabird nesting on islands. Mary’s Point (New Brunswick; 2,965 acres [1,200 ha]). Contains gravel beaches, salt marshes, and extensive intertidal mudflats, supporting the world’s highest known density of the crustaceans Corophium volutator (>60,000/m²)—the principal food source for millions of migratory shorebirds staging here during the fall migration: up to 200,000 semipalmated sandpipers present in late summer and more than 2 million pass through in August. McConnell River (Northwest Territories; 81,050 acres [32,800 ha]). A complex of coastal marshes and inland wet meadows around the mouth of the McConnell River; internationally important for breeding up to 200,000 pairs of snow geese as well as Canada geese and large numbers of nesting ducks and shorebirds. Musquodoboit Harbour (Nova Scotia; 4,757 acres [1,925 ha]). An ice-free estuary in winter with a complex of intertidal sand and mudflats, scattered islands and fringing salt marsh; mudflats support extensive eelgrass beds and abundant invertebrates, providing food for large numbers of staging and wintering waterbirds; one of the most important coastal staging and wintering sites for Canada geese and black ducks supporting the largest wintering populations of these two species in eastern Canada. Polar Bear Provincial Park (Ontario; 5,952,000 acres [2,408,700 ha]). Contains some marshes subject to saltwater inundation but includes the world’s most southerly example of tundra ecosystem; supports hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and swans, a breeding colony of more than 50,000, and during migration more than one million snow geese, a substantial proportion of the central Arctic breeding population of red knot, and the entire breeding population of marbled godwit. Queen Maud Gulf (Northwest Territories; 15,510,000 acres [6,278,200 ha]). Canada’s largest Ramsar site encompasses a vast tundra plain including open sea, coastal bays, intertidal zones, tidal estuaries, deltas , lowland...

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