Audubon at Work on Wetlands Chapter Results to Date June 1998

Acre by acre, Audubon chapters are saving wetlands, over 400,000 acres at this count. The chart below represents 154 chapters that have report 173 wetland projects. This is a conservative count of chapter wetland activities, since not all 518 Audubon chapters have submitted information to the campaign. To be included in this chart, chapters "enhanced protection" of a wetland, using two criteria:

1. Results can be documented: chapters provided the spark that led to a documented result of regulatory or non-regulatory protection of a wetland, such as acquisition, a conservation easement, stewardship, or passage of a local ordinance that protects all wetlands of a certain size or type;
2. Progress can be documented: chapters provided expertise --such as inventorying, mapping, wetlands watch, public testimony, preparing a permit decision appeal-- that results in stopping an immediate threat or in significant progress toward increasing protection.

Acquiring legal title to property by purchase, donation, or easements.

Writing comment letters, telephoning, building coalitions to influence state, local, or federal policies. Volunteering on citizens committees, getting elected to positions where you can be a wetlands advocate, or working on campaigns for issues or candidates that support wetlands.

Helping people understand the value of wetlands and why they are worth protecting.

Mapping wetlands, conducting inventories of birds and other wetland species, monitoring water levels, and other projects to gather data that can be used to protect wetlands. Strategies often include a combination of citizen science, professional studies, and science reviewers to analyze the data and studies that government agencies produce for permits and policy decisions.

Influencing local or state planning efforts such as comprehensive plans, watershed planning, and local ordinances for wetlands protection.

Filing Clean Water Act citizen suits or administrative or judicial challenges to local, state, or federal decisions.

Creating alliances, sharing information and data, working together on project proposals and advocacy positions, and mentoring. We are stronger and more effective working together.

Reviewing and commenting in writing or orally on local, state, or federal permits that affect the wetlands in your community.

Supporting local sanctuaries, Audubon sanctuaries, and National Wildlife Refuges, including advocacy for continued protection, restoration, and education.

Restoring wetland functions to a former wetland through planting or hydrological modifications to the system such as removing dikes and barriers. "Enhancement" refers to activities conducted in existing wetlands to increase their function(s).

Creating wetlands watch programs, land trusts, and other strategies to help protect wetlands on an ongoing basis.

Helping develop and implement watershed plans that incorporate wetland protection and restoration.

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email us: wetlands@audubon.org

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