The Minesing Wetlands, located in the Nottawasaga River watershed in southern Ontario, Canada, are an internationally significant wetland complex covering over 6,000 hectares. Comprising a diverse mosaic of fens, marshes and swamps, the wetlands support rich biodiversity, including rare and endangered species, while providing essential ecosystem services such as flood regulation, nutrient cycling and wildlife habitat. They also hold recreational and cultural significance.

Despite their ecological importance, the long-term environmental history of the wetlands remains poorly understood, including how climate change, fire and human activities have shaped their ecosystems over time. Their historical cultural significance also warrants further investigation, particularly given the long history of Indigenous occupation in the surrounding region.

In collaboration with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, this project aims to reconstruct centuries to millennia of ecological change in the Minesing Wetlands, examining the relative influences of climate, fire and human activities on vegetation and wetland dynamics. By comparing historical ecological conditions with present-day habitats, the research will establish long-term ecological baselines, improve understanding of the wetlands' ecological and cultural history, and identify potential future trajectories to inform conservation and management decisions.