The Vanishing Wetlands: Unveiling a Decade of Change

Wetlands are precious: as vital ecosystems, hosts of biodiversity, and even as one of the planet’s largest sources of carbon storage. 

Ever-changing Waters of the United States (WOTUS) policy impacts both the regulatory and consulting spaces, as well as environment and infrastructure.

Experts from inside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the environmental consulting world discuss Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP)–what they are, what factors to consider when creating an HCP, and best management practices for doing so.

This topic was covered in the 20th episode of Ecobot's webinar series, Convergence of Wetland Science and Technology. View recorded episodes here. 

Water demands my presence. 

I cannot go anyplace where some water feature does not speak to me in some fashion or another. 

The sound of the sea on a sandy beach at sunset is rich with longing and a sense of timelessness. 

The gentle waves of a lake shoreline beckon to the dreamer in my heart and mind. 

Roaring waterfalls beg to be allowed to pound on my head and shoulders, or to sing me to sleep. 

Salt marshes beckon to the anxious spirit through a languid breeze - tossing the slender necks of miles of graminoids basking in the full sun. 

Backwater swamps wait patiently for the canoe, while headwaters forested wetlands and seeps sing with seasonal abundance to the bold, adventurous, and imaginative.

I have just returned with my team from conducting wetlands monitoring in the field in Scandinavia. Since 2005, I have been part of a team of scientists and citizens monitoring changes in population demographics of vascular species in Lapland. Lapland is the home of the Sámi people, the indigenous reindeer herders of northern Scandinavia and Russia in the Arctic Circle, and is also considered to be the cleanest environment on Earth. Our monitoring project has been based in Rovaniemi, Finland, and spans into Norway and Sweden.

"Intent reveals desire; action reveals commitment."
~ Steve Maraboli