Today, February 2nd is World Wetland Day. According to Ducks Unlimited, “The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands and continues to lose more than 80,000 acres of the wetlands most important to wildlife each year.”
Wetlands are useful in all kinds of ways and we should be protecting and restoring them. Some general ways that wetlands benefit us below (according to Environmental Concern Inc)...
The EPA offers the following ideas about how you can help preserve and protect wetland areas...
More ideas about how you can help at:
Wetlands are useful in all kinds of ways and we should be protecting and restoring them. Some general ways that wetlands benefit us below (according to Environmental Concern Inc)...
- Wetlands house thousands of living creatures including 1/3 of all endangered animals, half our bird populations, and every single freshwater fish on earth depends upon wetland support.
- Wetlands feature plants that will only grow in wetlands.
- Wetlands control flooding, protect our coasts and provide natural groundwater recharging
- Wetlands provide places where we grow staple food items such as rice, provide commercial timber and animal populations. Peatlands are even used to still provide fuel.
- Wetlands also provide recreation.
The EPA offers the following ideas about how you can help preserve and protect wetland areas...
- Get involved find out where wetlands exist near your home, try to learn more about them, and support educational efforts.
- Support wetlands and watershed protection initiatives by public agencies and private organizations.
- Purchase federal duck stamps from your local post office to support wetland acquisition.
- Participate in the Clean Water Act Section 404 program and state regulatory programs by reviewing public notices and, in appropriate cases, commenting on permit applications.
- Encourage neighbors, developers, and state and local governments to protect the function and value of wetlands in your watershed.
- Rather than draining or filling wetlands, seek compatible uses involving minimal wetland alteration, such as waterfowl production, fur harvest, hay and forage, wild rice production, hunting and trapping leases, and selective timber harvest.
- Select upland rather than wetlands sites for development projects and avoid wetland alteration or degradation during project construction.
- Maintain wetlands and adjacent buffer strips as open space.
- Learn more about wetland restoration activities in your area; seek and support opportunities to restore degraded wetlands.
- In New England, participate in EPA's "Adopt-a-Wetland" program.
More ideas about how you can help at:
