It's been at least 30 years since my first visit to Israel and an important part of the story of the modern-day state was the draining of malaria-infested swampland for agricultural purposes. Make no mistake, the development of an agricultural economy preceded the manufacturing and tech industries and was something of a miracle given the challenges. At the same time it removed many thousands of hectares of marshland which were hugely important for migratory birds, water retention, and ecological balance. Since the 1990s efforts have been underway to restore those wetlands, although with some resistance from farmers because species such as storks and cranes eat crops.
Cranes in the Hula Valley, Israel
Canada is vast compared to Israel but we also have a problem with the destruction of wetlands, especially in the southern areas of the country where humans take over. In Ontario the north shores of lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as Georgian Bay, have experienced a dramatic reduction in the area of wetlands which filter runoffs and provide habitat for a wide variety of birds and aquatic species. And there are efforts to restore wetlands even as there is human pressure to reduce them.
Yesterday was World Wetlands Day and while I decided to reflect on groundhogs rather than marshes, I'm following up. Ruth and I are paddlers, both with canoes and kayaks and this Quinte/Hastings area is blessed with significant wetlands. When we paddle we see far more diversity of creatures, great and small, than we ever do when hiking or cycling. Last year we kayaked on a little-traveled stretch of the Trenton waterway and listened to magnificent chorus of frogs, one of the amphibians in decline in our province. We see everything from dragonflies to turtles to otters to ospreys and eagles, to deer (yup, deer can swim) as we move quietly about in areas which include wetlands.
Perhaps we can keep in mind that the Israel that Jesus grew up in and walked and boated on during his ministry would have included wetlands. You'll never see a painting of Jesus near a marsh, but it might be good if someone took that image on.
Fall paddle on the Salmon River, Southern Ontario
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