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In Louisiana, the state Department of Natural Resources is recycling an unlikely remnant of the holiday season to stem ongoing coastal erosion and wetlands losses-Christmas trees.
That's right, Christmas trees, minus the lights, ornaments and tinsel, of course. The idea of the program-yes, it's a program-is to trap sediment and create or protect wetlands by placing them in Louisiana's coastal marshes. Good idea. Kudos to the Louisiana DNR for its innovative initiative
Since the program's inception, begun 18 years ago, roughly 1.6 million trees have been strategically placed in the marshes, which, according to the New Orleans Times Picayune, has protected and/or created 250 million acres of wetlands.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Still, context is important, for no good deed, it appears, goes unpunished: Louisiana's rich coastal areas, home to all manner of fish and wildlife, important to hunter and anglers and economic vitality of their communities, continue to suffer wetland losses at a rate that most conservation officials believe is unsustainable.
Consider: Hurricane Katrina destroyed roughly 100 square miles of vital coastal wetlands, and it was recently reported that Louisiana's wetlands are being lost at a rate of one football field every 38 minutes. Such wetland losses will only improve the odds of another Katrina, because there will be fewer wetlands to blunt storm surges. And more hurricanes mean more lost wetlands. It's a vicious, vicious cycle.
This is cause for concern, and Congressional action. But more on that later.
While Hurricanes Katrina, not to mention Rita, brought national attention to the importance of wetlands preservation, it's obvious that some didn't receive the memo. Or, more likely, chose to ignore it.
Wetlands, it seems, are the Rodney Dangerfields of the natural world. They get no respect. Most farmers view them as nuisances. Developers constantly want to drain them, instead of utilizing them as natural assets. And the Supreme Court-which has at least one ducker hunter on the bench-continues to rule against them.
Perhaps it's because wetlands have so many names-people can't keep them straight, therefore their importance is somehow diminished. Indeed, these indispensable aquatic environments come with many monikers-marshes, bogs, swamps, bayous, bogs, prairie potholes, sloughs, wet meadows, playas, etc.-and perform numerous societal functions.
Wetlands are nurseries for fish and wildlife. Wetlands control flooding by providing water storage, which reduces flood peaks and slows flood waters. Wetland remove silt and filter runoff and pollutants, thus improving water quality. Wetlands reduce streambank erosion by slowing runoff and improve aquatic habitats. Wetlands sequester carbon, which many scientists believe contributes to global warming. Wetlands are important places for outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and photography, etc.). Wetlands are natural classrooms from which society can learn about the sublime glories of the natural world.
Still, despite their importance, the U.S. loses roughly 70,000 acres of wetlands each year. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, ten states-Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and Ohio-have lost more than 70 percent or more of their original wetland acreage, dating to the 18th century.
The U.S. alone has lost 54 percent of the original wetland areas that existed in colonial times. More than 100,000,000 acres have been destroyed in the U.S., primarily due to agricultural development.
As you can see, wetland loss is not only a problem. It's a national epidemic. But what can you do to stem their loss?
First, start at the local level by contacting your elected officials. Tell them that any city development must incorporate the conservation of wetlands and other natural amenities. Not only will it over time improve property values, the extra green space will improve your quality of life.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, contact your federal lawmakers and tell them to support the Clean Water Restoration Act, first introduced by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.).
As many of you already know, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act does not extend to wetlands that are not adjacent to navigable waters.
This misguided decision has put in jeopardy millions of wetland acres and other bodies of water, and the only remedy-at least right now-is Congressman Oberstar's legislation. The original Clean Water Act was passed in 1972. It has served our nation well. Now it's time for Congress to reaffirm its original intent.
In this instance, recycling Christmas tree just isn't enough.
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