Wisconsin Updates Wetlands Strategy
Weekly News Article Published: October 7, 2008 by the Central Office
MADISON – Sixteen organizations and government agencies have created a strategic plan to help reverse the destruction of wetlands in Wisconsin and are calling on all citizens to help “protect, restore and explore” these valuable natural resources.
“Wisconsin has lost almost half of its original wetland acres in the last 150 years,” says Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. “We don't expect to restore all 5 million acres and we understand that some wetland loss is necessary for development. But protecting remaining wetlands and restoring others where it makes sense will help prevent flooding, keep our lakes, rivers and drinking water clean, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife and recreation for people.”
The plan, “Reversing the Loss,” was developed by the Wisconsin Wetland Team, which includes representatives from federal, state and regional agencies and conservation organizations such as the Wisconsin Wetland Association, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. The plan endorsed by the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Wisconsin Builders’ Association.
The 16 member groups will continue to pursue their own mission and strategies, but agree to work toward the plan’s common vision of “reversing the loss” and to detail more specifically what they’ll do in action plans. The 2008-2010 action plan is available on the Wisconsin Wetlands Strategy: Reversing the Loss page of the DNR Web site.
The plan recognizes significant progress in Wisconsin in cutting wetland losses occurring as a result of construction projects that gain the needed permits: since 1991, the DNR’s permit program stressing avoiding and minimizing wetland losses has cut such permitted losses by 90 percent to an average of 100 acres for non-transportation projects.
But the plan also cites growing challenges occurring on local, regional and global scales, including global climate change, environmentally unfriendly construction and agricultural practices, invasive species and overuse of groundwater aquifers.
“The issues connected with restoring and protecting wetlands in the state are so complex we need a number of groups working on them,” says Becky Abel, executive director of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. “The partnership and Reversing the Loss address a lot of the complexities of wetland protection and restoration.”
Exploring wetlands, as these kids are doing, helps build understanding of wetlands and stewardship of them.
UW Extension Photo
Abel says that misunderstandings about wetlands “are so pervasive, both with respect to what wetlands are and why they matter. It should be the responsibility of multiple organizations and agencies to work on providing that information.”
Don Hammes, who chairs the Wetland Committee of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, says the strategic plan is a good one but that the process of creating it was even more important.
“DNR staff in particular had to make some tough decisions as to how they could best use their limited resources to help people protect, restore and explore wetlands. Then, priorities had to be determined,” he says.
The most valuable thing external groups did, Hammes says, was bring in varied perspectives.
The report notes that fully 75 percent of remaining wetlands are in private hands and several dozen agencies and organizations involved in wetland work play a large role in restoring wetlands and educating people about wetlands.
“Wisconsin wetlands cannot be protected and managed without help from wetland partners and citizens,” the report states. “Together, we can strive to Reverse the Loss of Wisconsin wetlands and leave for future generations these special places and the many benefits they bring.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Cherie Hagen, DNR (608) 266-7360 or Becky Abel, WWA (608) 250-9971, Don Hammes, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, (608) 836-1205
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