Last month, students from Fort Richmond Collegiate took home the grand prize at Ducks Unlimited Canada's (DUC) national research-based case study competition. The winning trio earned $500 for their school and the title of Youth Wetland Experts
The case study competition tasks students from the DUC Wetland Centres of Excellence with finding solutions to real-world conservation problems, including this year's topic of how to respond to Canada's more intense wildfire seasons.
"Many students feel the impacts of climate change on their lives and communities," says Mariane Bolla, DUC's head of National Education. "The case study competition is a chance for them to engage with current climate issues and think critically about solutions."
The winning team from the Fort Richmond Wetland Centre of Excellence in Winnipeg includes Hamza Haque, Haider Ali and Muhammad Zaid Irfan. Their innovative approach to wildfire management was to create a flow chart for communities to find the best wildfire solution for their area. They used maps showing wildfire frequency, forest cover, wetland cover and population density to inform their flow chart.
"We were all impressed with the flow chart. It was like something you'd see in an official government presentation," says Rick Murray, judge and DUC conservation programs specialist based in Grande Prairie, Alta.
"We wanted people to be able to find a wildfire management solution that was tailored to their location, that was most important," says Hamza, one of the winners. "We're really proud of what we created."
"I was almost in tears when I saw them present," says Jennifer Piasecki, a science teacher at Fort Richmond Collegiate. "From where they started, the improvement was incredible. I am so proud of them."
