Alaksen National Wildlife Area

The Alaksen National Wildlife Area is located on Westham Island in the Corporation of Delta, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is an important stopover point for many species of birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway.

Geography

The Alaksen Area is located on the delta of the Fraser River, as it enters the Pacific Ocean. the Area comprises mostly cultivated farmland, but also includes freshwater and brackish tidal marsh wetlands, some woodland and shore flats. In addition to the cultivated crops, the site is vegetated by various grasses in the farmland; cattails, Lyngbye's sedge, and bulrushes in the intertidal zone; and Red alder, willows and Black cottonwood, along with snowberry, salmonberry, and blackberries in the wooded areas.

History

The National Wildlife Area was officially protected under the Canada Wildlife Act of 1973. On May 24, 1987 Alaksen was designated a Wetland of International Significance under the Ramsar Convention, in combination with the George C. Reifel Refuge, also on Westham Island. It was the ninth designated Canadian Ramsar site. It was chosen because it is "a major Pacific Flyway site for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds; an excellent example of deltaic and coastal tidal wetland environments; the largest migratory bird wintering area in Canada; and the largest estuarine habitat on the Pacific coast of Canada." ["Canada 9: Alaksen, British Columbia: Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands", 2001]

Environmental Value

The Alaksen National Wildlife Area provides a valuable wildlife area very close to the urban centre of Greater Vancouver, allowing many educational opportunities. The cropland frequently floods in the winter, to a depth of two to three metres, and rarely freezes over, providing valuable habitat to wintering water birds. Over forty species of waterfowl winter in the Area, the most common being the Canada goose, the Mallard, the American Widgeon, and the Lesser Snow Goose. Also abundant are raptors, including the Goshawk, the Rough-legged hawk, and several species of falcon.

ee also

*List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wetlands.org/RSDB/default.htm Ramsar Sites Information Service]