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Climate Change and Wetlands: What You Can Do

The previous seven issues of Wetland Sights & Sounds introduced several ways that climate change is affecting wetlands and the plants and animals that depend on them for survival. The newsletters also contained stories of individuals and organizations that are doing their part to ensure that global warming does not destroy these valuable ecosystems. Whether you enjoy hunting waterfowl, fly-fishing, birdwatching, or nature photography, wetlands provide opportunities for an astounding variety of recreational activities—not to mention the countless services they provide to our communities, including flood protection, erosion control, water purification, and groundwater recharge. But with global temperatures on the rise, our wetland ecosystems need your help in order to remain healthy and functional.

Fortunately, it is not too late to reduce the negative effects of climate change. In order to bring global warming to a halt, we must start rolling back our emissions of global warming pollution today. These steps will require federal and state intervention, as well as cooperation among international governments. We need governments at all levels to step up and take bold action. But we also need to save wetlands through grassroots level action. Communities, businesses, and individuals can help slow the rate of global warming by altering some of their day-to-day activities and taking a few simple steps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere. An excellent place to begin is by measuring your “carbon footprint.” A carbon footprint is a measure of how much of an impact our daily activities have on the environment, in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases that they produce. If you would like to find out what your carbon footprint is, visit http://www.carbonfootprint.com/.

The next step is to find ways to shrink your carbon footprint. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gasoline, is responsible for the vast majority of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, about 45 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution in the United States is generated from the gasoline burned in our cars. Walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, and driving more efficient cars are all ways to curb greenhouse gases. If driving is your only option, ensure that your vehicle is as fuel-efficient as possible by making sure your tires are inflated and scheduling regular tune-ups. When the time comes to purchase a new car, choose a vehicle with greater fuel-efficiency ratings or invest in a hybrid. Though you may be paying a little more up front, you will not only save a lot more money on fuel in the long run, you will also be reducing greenhouse gas emissions. You can compare fuel efficiency ratings for different vehicles, learn more about hybrid vehicles, and get tips for increasing gas mileage at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/.

Another 35 percent of carbon dioxide emissions are derived from electricity production. This is because most of our electricity is generated by coal-burning power plants. Consumers can help solve this problem by replacing incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and by buying appliances with the Energy Star label. You may also be able to pay a little extra to your utility company to ensure that the electricity you are using comes from a renewable source like wind or solar. To find out if your utility participates in the Green Power Purchase Program, visit www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml.

Even your decisions about what to buy at the grocery store can help make a difference. Instead of buying products that must be transported over long distances, make an effort to purchase items or foods that are produced nearby. During the growing season, take your family grocery shopping at a local farmer’s market. By making this a fun weekly outing, you will not only be supporting more climate-friendly agricultural practices, you will also be instilling in your children a life-long appreciation for fresh, healthy foods. Not sure where to find a farmer’s market or local product supplier in your community? Go to http://www.localharvest.org/ to find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.

More than ever before, corporations are realizing that they, too, need to start reducing their greenhouse gas output and be a part of the climate change solution. Consumers are rewarding these climate-conscious companies by preferring to purchase their goods and services over those of other, less environmentally-minded businesses. Find out if your favorite food products, clothing brands, fast food restaurants, and electronics suppliers are taking responsibility for their greenhouse gas emissions at climatecounts.org. This innovative site also gives you the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of top-rated companies, and encourage low-rated brands to “green” up.

A relatively new way to help shrink our carbon footprints is to purchase carbon offsets, which are ways to mitigate the greenhouse gases produced by our activities. Every year, a greater number of people are voluntarily participating in carbon offset programs, which allow you to invest in emissions-reducing projects, such as renewable energy and reforestation programs. According to a report by Ecosystem Marketplace, about $91 million of voluntary carbon offsets were purchased in 2006, which represents about 24 million metric tons of carbon dioxide reductions. Many people purchase carbon offsets to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions caused by air travel. One top-rated Web site with an excellent emissions calculator and carbon offset portfolio is http://www.my-climate.com/.

At the same time we’re reducing greenhouse gases, we should also be doing more to protect and restore wetlands. Wetlands are among the Earth’s most important ecosystems, providing many benefits: food and habitat for fish and wildlife; flood protection; erosion control; food for human consumption; water quality improvement; and opportunities for recreation, education and research. Yet the U.S. continues to lose almost 60,000 acres of wetland habitat per year to development, agriculture, and logging. Moreover, the health of our remaining wetlands is in danger from habitat fragmentation, polluted runoff, water level changes, and invasive species. By volunteering for a wetland restoration project or educating children about the values of wetland ecosystems, you are helping to ensure the survival of these ecosystems. You will also be helping to combat global warming, since wetlands themselves help remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. If you would like to get involved in a local wetland restoration project, the Environmental Protection Agency has a list of state, local, and tribal wetland restoration links at www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore.

Even the smallest wetland area can have significant value to the plant, animal, and human communities that live nearby. If you are a landowner with a wetland on your property, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service would like to invite you to help protect this valuable acreage by joining the Wetlands Reserve Program. By offering eligible landowners technical and financial assistance toward establishing long-term conservation practices and wildlife protection, this program has proven to be one of the most successful federal wetlands conservation programs, with over 1 million wetland acres protected. Find out more about the options available to help you restore or enhance the wetlands on your property by clicking on this link: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp.

Whether you are interested in wetland-inspired poetry contests or starting your own wetland monitoring group, the Izaak Walton League’s Protect Our Wetlands Program offers myriad ways to help you get started. With American Wetlands Month coming in May, make sure you take advantage of this timely opportunity to promote wetland conservation activities in your community. You can also be a part of making wetlands conservation exciting to kids and adults alike by setting up a booth at the county fair with creative and fun educational activities about wetlands, or by preparing a presentation about wetlands for your civic association, child’s classroom, League chapter, or local library. For lots of great information and materials geared towards outreach, see our educational resources at www.iwla.org/sos/resources.

Finally, it is important to urge your elected representatives in Congress to support wetland conservation legislation. The Clean Water Restoration Act is a bill that needs your help in order to ensure that our nation’s wetlands, streams, and lakes are fully protected under the Clean Water Act. You can find more information about this important piece of legislation in the right-hand sidebar.

Critter Corner
Saving a Mighty Giant: Eastern Hemlock

The eastern hemlock is one of the most beloved trees in the eastern United States. This majestic tree can be found from northeastern Minnesota eastward to Nova Scotia, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and Alabama. Individual hemlock trees at the heart of their range, in the Great Smoky Mountains, have been measured at over 170 feet tall, with the oldest specimens aged at over 900 years old—making them one of the largest and oldest evergreen species on the east coast. Because eastern hemlocks are often found growing along streamsides, they play an extremely important role in keeping water temperatures cool for trout and other aquatic life. Deer, wild turkey, great-horned owls, chickadees, are just a few of the many wildlife species that rely on the eastern hemlock for food and shelter. Additionally, the graceful hemlock provides excellent shade and serves as a useful property line marker, making it one of the most commonly planted trees in New England suburban yards. But underneath many of those lacy-needled branches lurks a horde of minute creatures that are slowly sucking the life out of the trees. The hemlock woolly adelgid, an aphid-like pest accidentally introduced from Japan, is single-handedly wiping out vast acreages of eastern hemlock forests. As if this wasn’t bad enough, global warming is tipping the odds even further against the survival of this species.

Turn over a branch of eastern hemlock and you might see wads of cottony material at the base of each needle. These are hallmark signs of a woolly adelgid infestation, which can spell death for a tree in as little as one year. Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park has been hit especially hard by the hemlock woolly adelgid, which has destroyed more than 90 percent of the park’s eastern hemlock population. Hemlock populations in Kentucky, North Carolina, and parts of the Great Smoky Mountains have also been severely affected by the pests. Though the adelgids have been plaguing eastern hemlocks in the southernmost part of their range for over 50 years, scientists could previously take heart that cold winters would prevent their spread further north. Woolly adelgids cannot tolerate frigid weather—it just takes a few hours of temperatures well below freezing to kill most of them off. Since most winters in the northeast involve a few nights where the mercury dips that low, this part of the eastern hemlock’s range had been considered safe. Rising global temperatures however, are allowing the adelgid to expand its range further north every year. Today, the insect is at the Vermont-Massachusetts border and has even appeared in southern New Hampshire and Maine.

The case of the eastern hemlock is proving that even the mightiest wetland species are vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. But with the help of resource managers, researchers, and people like you, this story may turn out to have a happy ending after all. Throughout the eastern hemlock’s range, foresters and resource managers are removing trees as soon as they show signs of infestation. Additionally, individual trees are being injected or sprayed with pesticides that specifically target the woolly adelgid. Scientists are also busy developing a strategy to combat the adelgids. At Virginia Tech, scientists are studying a Japanese beetle species that preys exclusively on hemlock woolly adelgids. Researchers at the University of Vermont are excited about a native fungus that attacks and kills the pests. Physical, chemical, and biological control methods like these are promising to help even the odds for the hemlock’s survival, but there is also an opportunity for you to make a difference. By taking steps to reduce your daily greenhouse gas emissions, you can play a key role in the long-term survival of the eastern hemlock, as well as thousands of other wetland plant and animal species. Take a look at some of the helpful Web sites described above and in the right-hand sidebar, and start being a part of the climate change solution today.

VOLUME FOUR
Issue No. 8