This World Wetlands Day we’re celebrating and bringing attention to wetlands as a source of freshwater. We’re also encouraging actions to restore, protect, and stop their loss.
Water and wetlands are connected in a coexistence that is vital to life, our wellbeing, and the health of our planet.
The contribution of wetlands to the quantity and quality of freshwater on our planet is more important than ever. 180 million people in over 68,000 communities rely on forested lands and wetland forests to capture and filter their drinking water. Major US cities that may seem distant from forests actually rely on water from forest agency lands. For example, Atlanta receives a significant portion of its water supply from national forests/wetland forests.Fresh and saltwater wetlands sustain humanity and nature.
Wetlands support our social and economic development through multiple services:
- Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector, while inland fisheries alone provided 12 million tons of fish in 2018.
- In the United States nearly 75% of the nation’s outdoor recreation takes place within one-half mile of streams or other water bodies.
- The 44 million sport fishing anglers purchase goods and services totaling roughly $4 billion annually.
More than one billion people rely on wetlands for income.
Wetland and wetland forests are homes to rare, endemic species. Wetlands removes pollutants from water. Wetlands will play an ever-increasing role in the recreation and tourism industries, which brings jobs and economic prosperity to communities around this vital ecosystem.
Furthermore, wetlands are a key player in helping us regulate our climate and the impacts of climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
Wetlands keep us safe, protecting us from floods and storms. Each acre of wetland absorbs up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
We are facing a freshwater crisis that threatens our planet and people.
We use more freshwater than nature can replenish, and we are destroying wetlands, precious ecosystems that water and all life depend on.
Only 2.5% of water on Earth is freshwater, and less than 1% is usable. We must protect rivers, lakes, and swamps as essential surface water sources and key elements to our survival.
We must stop destroying and converting wetlands to other useless things if we want to have enough clean water.
Tell your leaders about how much you care and urge them to preserve wetlands and wetland forests.
Take action this World Wetlands Day: Fight to protect wetland forests
Urge your Congress members to protect wetland forests and the communities that depend on them!
Additionally, IF you’re a Georgia resident, protect the Okefenokee Swamp
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, is one of the nation’s most important wetlands. Last year, Dogwood supporters joined over 60,000 concerned citizens to take action, calling on the Army Corps of Engineers to deny Twin Pines a permit to mine deep into the ridge that retains the waters of the refuge. After changes the previous presidential administration made to the rules governing the waters of the US, the company has even less oversight now, offers NO assurances that their mining operations will protect the swamp from permanent damage, and makes no claims to protect the interests of the people who depend on it for recreation and economic opportunity. Take action: Tell Georgia’s governor to protect the Okefenokee Swamp.
Do you want to learn more and raise awareness about the vital role of wetlands, clean water, people, and the planet?