November 5, 2019
In this article published by AP News, Saving Nature’s Dr. Stuart Pimm was asked to comment on the effectiveness of the “No net loss wetlands” policy that aims to balance development and conservation.
Bringing the World’s Buried Wetlands Back From the Dead
Over the last three centuries, we have lost almost 90% of the world’s wetlands, according to the Ramsar Convention, an organization formed to protect global wetlands. Since its adoption in 1971, the loss of wetlands has only accelerated.
But there is renewed hope for wetlands restoration, thanks to efforts to unearth wetlands buried decades ago to expand agricultural production. Farmers, ranchers, and conservationists are now joining forces to integrate wetlands into a sustainable future.
Both the U.S. and China have adopted “no net loss” of wetlands as a guiding principle in balancing development and conservation. The framework requires that any destruction of wetlands be offset by wetlands reclamation, mitigation, and restoration efforts, including man-made replacements.
“People brag about the fact that there’s been no net loss. But what they’ve done is destroy natural wetlands and created artificial ones,” says Stuart Pimm, a Duke University professor.
Read the full article here.
