Wetlands are some of Earth’s most valuable ecosystems that offer a range of benefits, such as cleaning our water, providing critical habitat and supporting recreational industries. Importantly, wetlands also serve as natural infrastructure and protect communities from flooding, which is the costliest natural hazard in the United States.
Despite these benefits, our nation’s wetlands are facing increasing risks due to a rollback in federal protections, making these critical ecosystems more susceptible to pollution, degradation and development. A peer-reviewed analysis by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) estimates up to 90 million acres of wetlands could now be threatened from recent federal actions to scale back protections. For reference, that is almost the size of California!
Due to the severe consequences wetland loss would have for communities, EDF is advocating for better protections on state and federal levels. The organization is collaborating with scientists, economists, policymakers and advocates to quantify and communicate wetland benefits.
To learn more about wetland benefits and EDF’s campaign to advocate for increased protections, click here and explore interactive tools, updates and resources.
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