Wetlands International’s Post

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released their latest report on wetlands status and trends late last week. I’m still working my way through it but something that stands out to me is the focus mitigation puts on functions, but the reporting is still focused on acreage of loss. If our mitigation is shifting instead to replacing functions, how do we do this and still measure our “no net loss”? In PA, both are still considered but new protocols are being developed that are more scientific/function based. One of the stats provided indicated that vegetated wetlands have decreased by 50% but non-vegetated wetlands have increased by 7%. Function based replacement will help improve this statistic. And with the latest CWA guidance updates, state protections of wetlands become more important and the level of state wetland protection varies greatly. Will this be a big contributing factor in years to come? Or instead will we just lose this data because if an isolated wetland is not regulated federally or by the state, will it even be included in the data as a loss as it may not be delineated/tracked? Thought provoking report, for sure. https://lnkd.in/dq2xpwTT

Kroenke Ranches is taking bold new steps on Texas’s WAGGONER RANCH by adopting a holistic approach to the ecological management of the historic 560,000-acre ranch’s significant wildlife resources. The primary land-management techniques currently being employed by the Wildlife Division are targeted specifically at quail and white-tailed deer habitats. Since Stan Kroenke purchased the Waggoner Ranch in February 2016, brush management has been performed on more than 150,000 acres of the 875-square-mile landholding. This comprehensive management philosophy has served to promote populations of native grasses and forbs and to enhance habitat diversity on the largest single ranch under one fence in the Lone Star State Stan Kroenke's 1,700,000 acres take the Number 4 spot in The Land Report 100 presented by Peoples Company: https://lnkd.in/eDrmGzyu PHOTO CREDIT: © Kroenke Ranches - Peoples Company #LandReport100 #AmericasLargestLandowners #landowners #KroenkeRanches #WaggonerRanch #WildlifeManagement #EcologicalConservation #QuailHabitat #DeerHabitat #BrushManagement #HabitatDiversity #NativeGrasses

Kroenke Ranches is taking bold new steps on Texas’s WAGGONER RANCH by adopting a holistic approach to the ecological management of the historic 560,000-acre ranch’s significant wildlife resources. The primary land-management techniques currently being employed by the Wildlife Division are targeted specifically at quail and white-tailed deer habitats. Since Stan Kroenke purchased the Waggoner Ranch in February 2016, brush management has been performed on more than 150,000 acres of the 875-square-mile landholding. This comprehensive management philosophy has served to promote populations of native grasses and forbs and to enhance habitat diversity on the largest single ranch under one fence in the Lone Star State Stan Kroenke's 1,700,000 acres take the Number 4 spot in The Land Report 100 presented by Peoples Company: https://lnkd.in/eDrmGzyu PHOTO CREDIT: © Kroenke Ranches - Peoples Company #LandReport100 #AmericasLargestLandowners #landowners #KroenkeRanches #WaggonerRanch #WildlifeManagement #EcologicalConservation #QuailHabitat #DeerHabitat #BrushManagement #HabitatDiversity #NativeGrasses

Wetlands provide numerous life-sustaining benefits that are vital to the environment as well as human health and well-being. Loss of wetlands contributes to a decrease in human safety, health, and economic prosperity due to increased susceptibility of people and infrastructure to natural disasters, decreased food and water security, increased harmful algal blooms and greater vulnerability to sea level rise.   A recent report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) found that wetlands now cover less than 6% of the lower 48 states, which is half of their original area. Loss rates have increased by 50% since 2009.   To achieve no net loss of all wetlands, including vegetated wetlands, a strategic update is needed to America’s approach to wetland conservation.   https://lnkd.in/ex9MSBk2

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recent report reveals that wetlands (mostly freshwater) now cover less than 6% of the lower 48 states, half their original area. Loss rates have increased by 50% since 2009. The report calls for action to reverse this trend and continue providing future generations with clean water, protection against natural disasters, resilience to climate change, and habitats for wildlife. #Wetlands #Conservation #NatureBasedSolutions

"Net wetland loss increased substantially (>50%) since the last...study period (2004-2009), resulting in the loss of 221,000 acres [89k ha] of wetlands, primary to uplands, between 2009 and 2019." 😳 For an ecosystem that delivers so many benefits to people--cleaning our waters, habitat for species we depend on, high levels of carbon sequestration, beautiful landscapes like the one in the Canaan Valley of WV on the cover of the report--this is such incredibly sad news. Not just sad for the wetlands, but for us. The new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and U.S. Department of the Interior "Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 2009 to 2019: Report to Congress" has more numbers and facts, and some recommendations on how we might reverse course. We need to figure this out!

🐊 Urgent request for all who care about clean air in the Southeast and friends of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge! Please respond by this Monday (Nov. 18)❗ Last month, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a proposed boundary expansion of the refuge, adding approximately 22,000 acres. The expansion would allow the refuge to work with landowners to explore voluntary management actions that would protect the swamp’s hydrologic integrity, conserve wetlands, and safeguard the swamp and landowners from wildfires. This is our chance to protect the swamp for future generations, and we need your help to ensure the expansion moves forward. Here's how YOU can make a difference: ✅ Visit the One Hundred Miles website, where you’ll find all the info you need on the proposed expansion: https://lnkd.in/e9JCMUnJ. ✅ Send a quick email: The website provides a simple template you can use to express your support directly to the USFWS. It takes just a few minutes! The clock is ticking! USFWS must receive your email by Monday, Nov. 18! We need to show the USFWS that there is strong, widespread support for this expansion. Every email counts in helping ensure the protection of this vital ecosystem. The Okefenokee Swamp is a national treasure—a vast, biodiverse wetland that provides critical habitat for countless species. Let’s stand together and make sure the Okefenokee Swamp stays protected for generations to come! #Wildlife #WaterConservation #Conservation #Nature #RootLocal

From wild game to working ranches: How hunting transforms Texas land management! Our game species research on our ranches is based on - and reinforces - the fact that legal, ethical, and science-based hunting is important for game species management, conservation, and ranch economics. Did you know hunting-related expenditures from white-tailed deer hunters alone bring $4.3 billion annually to Texas? East Foundation’s science team is tackling vital questions about sustainable harvest rates for bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer population resilience, and nilgai antelope management - all while proving that private land ownership, cattle ranching and wildlife conservation can thrive together. Read about how this innovative approach to land stewardship is shaping the future of Texas rangelands and wildlife management. https://lnkd.in/garbWPTV 🌿

🌿🐺 The House has passed a bill to expand gray wolf hunting and trapping, raising profound concerns for wildlife conservation efforts. Led by Rep. Lauren Boebert and HR 764, this decision sidesteps scientific consensus and jeopardizes the delicate balance of our ecosystems. As this bill moves to the Senate, it's crucial to raise awareness and advocate for responsible wildlife management. While we can't guarantee its passage to the Senate, tracking its progress through congressional updates or news sources can provide insights into its likelihood of advancing. Together, we can protect our gray wolves and preserve the beauty and balance of our natural world. CALL TO ACTION: **Read & Share: https://lnkd.in/e9jdjgrU **Sign: https://lnkd.in/dYaVE4ta **Spread the word. Repeat. #GrayWolf #KeystoneSpecies #ApexPredator #Conservation #WildlifeProtection #EndangeredSpecies #EnvironmentalPolicy #WildlifeManagement #EcosystemBalance #CommunityAction #AnimalAdvocacy #NaturePreservation #RepBoebert #NRA #PolicyConflict #HR764 #WikiAnimal #TheRisingLioness 🐺🌿🗳️

The Wildlife Habitat Features Summary of Management Guidelines of the Northern Interior Forest Region of British Columbia is a great resource for guidance and recommendations when working up north. This document is particularly useful as a reference resource for the identification and management of wildlife habitat features (WHF) when working in the northern interior of British Columbia. Find information regarding: 1. Fisheries Sensitive Features 2. Mineral Licks and Wallows 3. Specified Nests - Bald Eagle - Osprey - Great Blue Heron 4. Localized Wildlife Habitat Features - Large Stick Nests (non-specified species) - Sharp-tailed Grouse Leks - Ungulate Natal Areas - Grizzly Bear Ground Dens - Black Bear Den Trees - Snake Hibernacula Bat Hibernacula and Maternity Roosts Hot Springs Non-classified Wetlands and Ephemeral Ponds Download the document here: https://lnkd.in/g45xpCNG