wetland worries

the majority of our nation's wetlands-90 percent, to be exact-are what's referred to as freshwater marshes. they purify our drinking water, reduce flooding, serve as an irreplaceable breeding and nesting habitat for millions of creatures, and prevent the erosion of shorelines. yet, over the past 200 years, we've allowed some 120 million acres of this valuable ecosystem to disappear. building dams, polluting water sources with livestock waste, and permitting aggressive logging practices are just a few of the human-induced threats facing wetland ecosystems today.

according to the u.s. fish and wildlife service, more than 120,000 acres of wetlands are destroyed annually. and with the leveling of these wetlands go entire delicate ecosystems-and the plants, insects, and animals they support.

nearly 50 percent of the bird species in north america rely upon wetlands for some aspect of their nesting or feeding. when fleeing colder climes, migratory birds use wetlands habitat as rest areas to provide relief along the way. according to the national audubon society, the number of birds migrating over the gulf of mexico since the 1960s has been cut in half due to the loss of coastal wetlands in louisiana and mississippi-popular staging spots for the feathered travelers.

perhaps one of the most striking-and endangered-stretches of wetlands ecosystem is the florida everglades. starting at lake kissimmee and running seemingly forever southward into lake okeechobee, much of the everglades is immersed under a half-foot of water. unfortunately, commercial development and farming have raped the everglades of more than half of its total acreage over the past 100 years. as a matter of fact, scientists estimate that 70 percent less water flows through the south florida jewel today as compared with a century ago. and the water that remains is a sickly, polluted shadow of what once was.

over the past 30 years, agricultural development has been responsible for close to 90 percent of our lost wetlands. historically, wetlands environment has been perceived as a barrier to commercial and residential expansion. the scenario goes something like this: developers move in, wetlands lose out. throw in a steadily increasing dose of pollution and you've got yourself an already-unstable environment readying itself for life support.

and things look to worsen before they take an upswing for the better. consider this example: since 1998, commercial developers have relied upon a loophole in the landmark clean water act allowing them to disregard the need to obtain permits and destroy more than 30,000 acres of wetlands.

make a difference

· conserve water. turn the water off when scrubbing dishes or brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and water your lawn in the early morning or late evening.

· contact conservation groups in your area so that you may better familiarize yourself with local concerns.

· take action. write letters and make phone calls to influence public decisions that affect the condition and future of our nation's wetlands.

· educate others. make sure that the issues of wetlands conservation and ecosystem protection are part of your kids' curriculum at school.

· make your vote count. bring environmental issues into the voting booth with you.

source: national parks conservation association - http://www.npca.org