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    of 2

    U.S.

    Fish & Wildlife Service

    Continued Decline of
    Wetlands Documented
    in New U.S. Fish and…
    and…

    Image Details

    PRESS RELEASE

    Continued Decline of
    Wetlands Documented in
    New U.S. Fish and Wildlife
    Service Report
    More than half of wetlands in the
    lower 48 states are gone, and
    losses continue, mostly in the
    Southeast, Great Lakes and Prairie
    Pothole regions.
    Mar 22, 2024

    Media Contacts
    Public Affairs HQ

    W ASHINGTON — A new report released by the U.S. Fish and


    Wildlife Service reveals wetlands – 95 percent of which are
    freshwater — covered less than 6 percent of the lower 48 states as of
    2019 – which is half the area they covered since the 1780s. The report
    also identifies that loss rates have increased by 50 percent since 2009
    and that without additional conservation actions taken to protect
    these ecosystems, wetland loss will likely continue, reducing
    ecosystem benefits for people and habitat for fish, wildlife and plants.

    This sixth edition of the national “Wetlands Status and Trends” report
    to Congress measured wetland change from 2009 to 2019 and builds on
    data from a series of reports spanning 70 years, highlighting the
    importance of wetlands.

    “The reasons for these losses are multiple, but the results are clear –
    wetland loss leads to the reduced health, safety and prosperity of all
    Americans,” said Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
    Service. “This report serves as a call to action to stop and reverse
    wetland loss and ensure we continue to provide future generations
    with clean water, protection against natural disasters, and resilience to
    climate change and sea level rise, as well as habitat for many plants
    and animals.”

    The report shows wetland loss has disproportionately impacted


    vegetated wetlands like marshes and swamps. The rapid
    disappearance of vegetated wetlands between 2009 and 2019 has
    resulted in a loss of 670,000 acres, an area approximately equal to the
    land area of Rhode Island. Declines in vegetated wetlands primarily
    occurred in the Southeast, Great Lakes, and Prairie Pothole regions.
    Decreases were particularly prevalent in the coastal watersheds of the
    Carolinas, the Delmarva Peninsula, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, as well
    as near the Mississippi and Mobile rivers.

    The main drivers of wetland loss have shifted over time. In the mid-
    1900s, loss was primarily caused by drainage and fill associated with
    agriculture. During the 2009 through 2019 study period, loss was
    associated with development, upland planted forest, and agriculture.
    However, other drivers also likely contributed to the loss, including
    climate change and sea level rise, especially along the coasts.

    To achieve no net loss of all wetlands, including vegetated wetlands,


    the report concludes that a strategic update is needed to America’s
    approach to wetland conservation. Conserving and restoring vegetated
    wetlands will be critical to addressing climate change and threats to
    biodiversity.

    Wetlands are one of the most productive and biodiverse habitats, with
    40 percent of all plant and animal species living or breeding in
    wetlands. Threatened and endangered species are no exception, with
    approximately half of all Endangered Species Act species in the United
    States being wetland dependent. Wetlands provide stopover and
    wintering habitats for more than 4 billion birds from Canada as well as
    breeding habitats for nearly five billion migratory birds en route to the
    tropics. Wetlands also provide shelter and vital nursery habitat for
    many species of fish and are an important source of cultural resources
    for communities and many Native American Tribes.

    Positioned at the transition between dry land and deepwater systems,


    wetlands are characterized by unique biological, chemical and
    hydrological conditions. Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological,
    economic and social benefits, as well as habitat for fish, wildlife and a
    variety of plants. Wetlands hold and slowly release flood water and
    snow melt, buffer against coastal storms, recharge groundwater, act as
    filters to cleanse water of impurities, recycle nutrients and provide
    recreational opportunities for millions of people. Wetlands are also
    nurseries for many salt and freshwater fishes and shellfish of
    commercial and recreational importance.

    The Service uses funding sources like the Bipartisan Infrastructure


    Law to invest in conservation efforts to combat climate change and
    restore ecosystems that will provide long-lasting benefits to the
    American people. Within the Service and many other federal agencies,
    the Wetlands Status and Trends reports guide the funding, planning
    and implementation of wetland protection, restoration and
    enhancement, habitat assessments, strategic habitat conservation,
    and ecosystem management activities. To read the report, visit
    https://www.fws.gov/project/2019-wetlands-status-and-trends-
    report For related images,
    visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/albums/72177720314317

    -FWS-

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect
    and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing
    benefit of the American people. For more information,
    visit www.fws.gov and connect with us on social media:
    Facebook , Instagram , X  (formerly known as
    Twitter), LinkedIn , Flickr  and YouTube .

    Story Tags

    WETLANDS

     Press Release

    Published
    Mar 22, 2024

    Land Management

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