Wetlands play an integral role in our ecosystem and being from Wisconsin there are plenty of reasons we should be very familiar with the benefits provided and concerns with their depletion. When areas receive significant rain, wetlands are useful in collecting excess rainwater to help avoid flooding. Wetlands also act as a natural water filtration system and help restore underground water levels - that lots of people rely on for drinking water! They are natural buffer zones for rivers and assist with maintaining the overall health of river water. Wetlands are an important ecosystem for migrating birds. Some are used as sustainable fisheries (watch the TedTalks video linked below - it's awesome!). Given our global climate change crisis, wetlands also aid with storing carbon. Wetlands are amazing, but what is happening to them isn't. According to Actionbioscience, "between 1780’s and 1980’s, the lower 48 states have lost 53% of the original wetland habitat, or about 104 million acres." (Actionbioscience) In the last 200 years over 50% of our national wetlands have been lost. We need to change our negative impact on wetlands. So, who is doing something about this?
Now having a brief introduction to the importance of wetlands, allow me to present a NGO that has been protecting Wisconsin's wetlands since 1969: Wisconsin Wetlands Association ("WWA"). They are based in Madison and work closely with our Wisconsin DNR. Members include a broad spectrum of minds from expert scientists and educators to local and regional organizations to concerned individuals like you and me. Whether you are troubled about your local ground water quality or rely on wetlands for a successful hunting season, you can work with WWA to learn more or to take action.
WWA has 33 of our 72 county fact sheets - Check them out!. Their focus area is restricted to Wisconsin's borders.
Look at these maps comparing historical wetland data to current wetland data for Milwaukee County.
Now allow me to draw your attention to WWA's Milwaukee map that breaks-down what they've mapped and the areas that could potentially be restored.
The WWA defines their areas of work into these categories (Our work) :
- Promoting widespread understanding of and engagement in wetlands.
- Encouraging policies and programs that promote wetland conservation and ensure wetland laws are implemented and enforced.
- Advancing wetland science and practices.
- Ensuring a healthy organization that can work for the long haul to protect, promote, and restore wetlands.
They also host and organize an annual wetland conference that began in 1995; although their last conference was held in 2012. Their targeted attending audience is listed on their website as:
It is important to get everyone on the same page when addressing and finding solutions to our depleting wetlands. They want local citizens involved in protecting current wetlands (Protecting Wetlands).
By working with local governments they were able to get the 2001 Act 6 passed which got all 72 counties on board with implementing wetland protection.
The WWA and 4 other environmental organizations have gone to court against Ashley Furniture and won against this large corporation that was pushing to fill in a wetland without a permit.
They are fighting airport expansion in West Bend and are keeping tabs on permit enforcement along the natural gas pipelines.
For more information about their goals and aspirations, I invite you to check the link below for the comprehensive 2013-2017 Strategic Plan.
Wetlands are being addressed from all angles by the WWA. Wisconsin citizens and all organisms should be proud that this diverse NGO is protecting our wetlands.
Here is a 3 minute video from their website that reaffirms what I've laid out for you here and makes me want to go visit our very own Cedarburg Bog! My ecology professor said the fall colors are phenomenal right now. If we can swing some free time to get there I'll post any pictures I take.
Want to know more? Check out these websites:
Wisconsin Wetlands Association
Why are wetlands important?
TedTalks: How I fell in love with a fish
Wetland Restoration Handbook for Wisconsin landowners
2001 Wisconsin Act 6
Cedarburg Bog
WWA 2013-2017 Strategic Plan
From the way you promote this, I think WWA is really quite a great organization focusing on a specific topic. Going onto the website, I learned even more. This non-partisan science based professional organization is the first and oldest organization focusing just on wetland protection and restoration. I like their approach of reaching to communities through science-based programs and advocacy. One thing about them I have learned is WWA is trying to bring more of an international recognition through public awareness by having the Wisconsin Ramsar Committee. They help with identifying and nominating wetland sites in Wisconsin for Ramsar designation. Some of these sites include Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs, Mink River Estuary, and Moonlight Bay. They help identify these for these to become statewide priorities and make sure they are managed properly. There is a lot of information and knowledge to be gained from their website and all the things they have done and continue to do.
ReplyDelete