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Audubon at Work on WetlandsProtecting and restoring one million acres of wetlands |
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Summary of Results to Date
June 1998
Conservatively, Audubon has protected 600,000 wetland acres since 1990.
Background
The report Audubon at Work, published in 1996, highlights the wetlands protection activities of Audubon chapters around the country since 1990. It also provides a snapshot of wetlands work underway at state field offices, sanctuaries, regional and national campaigns and programs, such as Important Bird Areas, policy advocacy and education and communications. The Audubon Wetlands Campaign is currently updating this report, which will be posted on this web site. Progress to date in achieving the campaign goal of protecting and restoring one million acres of wetlands is outlined below.
Chapter Results
Since 1990, 154 chapters have reported that 173 wetlands projects protecting approximately 400,000 acres have been completed. An additional 138 wetlands education projects or other wetlands activities are underway or have been completed, for a total of 311 wetlands projects. This is a conservative accounting of chapter wetland activities, since not all 518 Audubon chapters have submitted information to the campaign.
Click here to submit your wetlands project to Audubon at Work on Wetlands.
Audubon Sanctuaries and Education Centers
At least half of Audubon’s several dozen wildlife sanctuaries around the country include wetlands. A rough count yields 94,000 wetland acres. In addition to holding title to land, Audubon sanctuaries often work to see that important wetlands are placed in public ownership. For example, the Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries have pushed for and secured millions of dollars for public acquisition of over 10,000 acres of wetlands. Over 100 Audubon chapters also operate sanctuaries, and many of these include wetlands. Nearly two dozen Audubon education centers are either already operating or are under development, and many of these comprise, or will comprise, wetland acres and programs. Richardson Bay Sanctuary and Education Center, for example, owns and protects 800 acres of tidal wetlands in San Francisco Bay.
State Field Offices
Sixteen state field offices report wetlands programs or activities. Minnesota Audubon, for example, was instrumental in securing a commitment for public acquisition and protection over the next four years of 100,000 floodplain wetland acres. Most state offices work with chapters on their local acquisition or other wetland protection projects. Several offices have large wetland campaigns underway. Florida Audubon, for example, is pushing a plan for public acquisition of one million acres of wetlands.
Regional and National Audubon Campaigns and Programs
Regional campaigns like Audubon’s Everglades , Platte River, and Upper Mississippi campaigns are focused on wetlands. These campaigns’ advocacy and education efforts make a major contribution to wetlands conservation. National campaigns, such as Wildlife Refuges and Endangered Species, have direct links to wetlands protection. Many of the wildlife refuges watch-dogged by several dozen Audubon Refuge Keeper groups are wetlands, while nearly half of all threatened and endangered species depend on wetlands. The Important Bird Areas program includes protection of wetland sites, and fifty percent of all WatchList birds are wetlands-dependent.
Progress to Date
Conservatively, the National Audubon Society and its many chapters have protected at least 600,000 acres of wetlands in eight years. Audubon chapters report protecting 400,000 wetland acres and national sanctuaries and education centers, an additional 95,000 acres. State field offices, chapter sanctuaries and regional and national campaigns and programs account for at least 100,000 acres of the total protected.
These numbers of wetland acres reported to the campaign are impressive and show we are well on our way to achieving our goal. They tell an incredible success story of perseverance and effectiveness, yet it’s not the whole story. The countless hours spent by state field office staff in state capitols. the wetland programs produced for TV and the articles written for Audubon magazine. the meetings and phone calls that ignite a bond referendum to save wetlands this too is the story of Audubon at work on wetlands.
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email us: wetlands@audubon.org |
Webweaver: planman Last Update: 1.5.99 |