'Caught Up in Nature’s Business' – The Wetlands Initiative’s Ecosystem Market

After surviving the thick policy and history surrounding Wisconsin Wetlands, you might now wonder: how is the local community becoming involved in the protection of these free ecological filters?

Firstly, the DNR does offer a “Wetland delineation professional assessment initiative” for individuals to keep tabs on the status of these Wisconsin policies. However, this week I stumbled upon another actor who seems to exemplify the power individuals can have in the Midwest wetland restoration effort.

Although originally developed in 1994 to function within Illinois, The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is an organization that has since spread their efforts of wetlands reintegration across the greater Midwest region. Like the actors we’ve previously introduced, TWI is “dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and reduce flood damage” (About Us). As a nonprofit, the organization has strong links to both philanthropic and governmental support. However, one curious aspect makes this actor stand out among the others: their work and funding doesn’t stop here!

Take a look at their organization’s introductory video to get a better idea of what this might be:

                                                       (Hint! Listen up around 3:05)

Yes, you heard right; The Wetlands Initiative not only works to restore more wetlands, but is working to create innovative changes in how environmental restoration is financed!

After completing two successful restoration projects at the Hennepin &Hopper Lakes (Ramsar site!) and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in the 90s, TWI decided to expand their reach. Working past the financial limitations of a nonprofit, The Wetlands Initiative began to seek new strategies and partnerships—a “new economic roadmap for restoration.” On this revitalized roadmap, the organization works as “conservation entrepreneurs” to “advocate, develop, and test innovative strategies to jumpstart restoration on a grand scale.” 

These new strategies include:

            -Developing ecosystem service markets that compensate landowners for
              restoring wetlands 
            -Reimbursement for the beneficial services that natural infrastructure 

             can provide

(For all who may not remember from the 1^st post, this includes: naturally removing nutrient pollution, reducing soil erosion, storing sediment, holding floodwaters, sequestering carbon, and facilitating recreation.)

So what does this approach mean when translated into the reality of business and economy? The Wetlands Initiative is utilizing a market-based system, partnering with the local farmers, government, and natural environment to privatize a common (yet scarce) natural resource (Evans 124).

To help understand how this commodification of “ecosystem services” can function realistically in the dynamic U.S. market, let’s take a look at a case study Wetlands Initiative highlights.

Growing Wetlands for Clean Water (Big Bureau Creek)

This project, piloted by the Wetlands Initiative, formed an active response effort to the nutrient pollution of the Mississippi River system—known as one of the biggest issues for the watershed. This nutrient pollution “is not just a ‘down the Mississippi’ problem”, but degrades water quality throughout the Midwest.  Although many state and federal work to produce rules and strategies to address this problem, the Wetlands Initiative “believe[s] on-the-ground steps don’t have to wait” (Growing Wetlands for Clean Water).

So, as a leader for agricultural communities and farmers, TWI used the Big Bureau Creek area as a key site for their target of Mississippi nutrient reduction. When conducting initial outreach, the Wetland Initiative discovered that many farmers were unfamiliar with the benefits of wetlands on agricultural land. For this reason, TWI promoted the adoption of small wetlands located within or near ditches or small tributaries on active farms in the upper Midwest (GWCW).

Within this system, farmers who managed wetlands on their land could obtain over $500 net profit per acre through nutrient credits. These credits are valued and produced when:

-A ton of nitrogen or phosphorus is removed from a river or stream

-Carbon is removed from the air

-Flood prevention is successfully utilized

-Recreational use is present

This visual further breaks down the potential profit that local farmers can make under this market-based trading system:

                                               (Finding Value in Wetlands)

Here, TWI demonstrates how creating a wetland along a natural floodplain, instead of growing corn or soybeans, can have a much more profitable result for local farmers in the long run. 

Once these nutrient credits are obtained, farmers can then exchange them with cities or industries to help our government comply with national standards and preserve a “resilient” landscape for the future generations. 

In summary, although this organization seems like yet another nonprofit working to reverse the degradation of Midwestern wetlands, TWI is blazing the trail to fuse economic interest and trade with responsible management of local ecosystems. Yes, the contributions of wetlands may never truly be quantified. Yet even so, this newly incentivized market has already motivated landowners to voluntarily restore numerous wetlands across the region.

Interested in reading more? Find their valuing methods and more at these links!

• EcosystemService Markets – The Wetlands Initiative
• Finding Value in Wetlands.pdf
• GrowingWetlands for Clean Water (Big Bureau Creek) – Wetlands Initiative
• The Wetlands Initiative: About Us
• DNR Wetland Delineation Professional Assessment Initiative