The Matter of Matter: Making Property in the Holland Marsh

A Multi-Criteria Index For Wetland Reconstruction Site Suitability In Ontario's Mixedwood Plains

“…During European settlement in Ontario, wetlands were regarded as wasteland to be converted into arable land or other developments (Classens, 2018). Since this time, 72% (or 1.4 million hectares) of wetlands in Ontario have been eliminated by means of land cover change, mostly to intensive agriculture (Snell, 1987;Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2010).…”

“…This meant the transformation of wetlands into areas which could produce profit or lend way to infrastructure. Classens (2018) aims to understand how the natural environment fits into the equation of private property and economic value by analyzing the ownership of natural resources. Through the investigation of the loss of Holland Marsh, a section of land famously drained and converted to agricultural fields in Southern Ontario; Classens (2018) states that the privatisation of biophysical nature comes with a need for a certain aspect.…”

“…Classens (2018) aims to understand how the natural environment fits into the equation of private property and economic value by analyzing the ownership of natural resources. Through the investigation of the loss of Holland Marsh, a section of land famously drained and converted to agricultural fields in Southern Ontario; Classens (2018) states that the privatisation of biophysical nature comes with a need for a certain aspect. The muck soil present beneath many wetland's surface water has been seen as a growing medium to be distributed and owned since the time of colonial settlement (Classens, 2018).…”

“…Through the investigation of the loss of Holland Marsh, a section of land famously drained and converted to agricultural fields in Southern Ontario; Classens (2018) states that the privatisation of biophysical nature comes with a need for a certain aspect. The muck soil present beneath many wetland's surface water has been seen as a growing medium to be distributed and owned since the time of colonial settlement (Classens, 2018). The use of this resource involved investment into the transformation of wetlands into another land use.…”

“…Throughout history, Ontario has undergone significant land cover change in favour of development. Wetlands in particular were previously regarded as territory which was useless until transformed, resulting in a 72% decrease in wetland area (Classens, 2018;Giblett, 2014;Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2010). This is a serious loss, as a wetland's ability to provide habitat, flood mitigation, water filtration and more, have become more valuable with worsening effects of climate change.…”