Building Community Awareness and Support for Wetlands through Recognition: Wetland Gems and Ramsar. Katie Beilfuss Wisconsin Wetlands Association

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1 Building Community Awareness and Support for Wetlands through Recognition: Wetland Gems and Ramsar Katie Beilfuss Wisconsin Wetlands Association

2 Painting by Judi Ekholm A statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and enjoyment of wetlands and associated ecosystems through science-based programs, education and advocacy.

4 David Schwaegler 75% of Wisconsin s wildlife species use wetlands during some stage of their lifecycle Gary Shackelford Gary Shackelford Jack Bartholmai

5 Eric Epstein Wetlands remove pollution, trap sediments, remove nutrients and break down toxins, helping to maintain clean and healthy waters for streams, rivers and lakes. Gary Shackelford Kate Redmond Andy Clark

6 Ecotourism is the largest growing sector of our nation s tourism and Tourism generates more than $11 billion annually in Wisconsin.

7 Wetlands are Wastelands Negative historical perceptions persist today: Wetlands are wastelands Wetlands breed disease and pestilence Wetlands are obstacles to progress Language perpetuates negative perceptions: Swamped Bogged down Stuck in mire

8 Wetlands were not only undervalued, they were actively destroyed More than half of Wisconsin s original 10 million acres have been lost Many of remaining wetlands are threatened or degraded Invasive species Altered hydrology Fragmented landscapes

9 Wetlands are not just this Marsh Jack Bartholmai

10 Coniferous Bog Andrew Galvin

11 Coniferous Swamp Robin Maercklein

12 Floodplain Forest Robin Maercklein

13 Lowland Hardwood Swamp Laura England

14 Open Bog David Schwaegler

15 Ephemeral Pond Brynda Hatch

16 Alder Thicket Eric Epstein

17 Shrub Carr Steve Eggers

18 Fen Steve Eggers

19 Sedge Meadow Brynda Hatch

20 Low Prairie Brynda Hatch

21 Because wetlands are not well understood or valued, they are often typecast as obstacles to progress in public dialogue

22 Project Purpose Casting change: from obstacles to treasures Raise profile of and elevate public interest in wetlands Increase public awareness of wetland values Motivate citizens to explore and enjoy wetlands Generate community pride in local wetland treasures Catalyze community involvement in stewardship and protection of local wetland treasures

Wetland Gems Are Natural treasures Representatives of the state s wetland diversity Important for biodiversity Provide natural services Destinations

24 Wetland Gems Are Natural treasures Representatives of the state s wetland diversity Important for biodiversity Provide natural services Destinations for recreation & outdoor education Mink River Estuary, Door County. Clint Farlinger. Wetland Gems collectively represent Wisconsin s wetland heritage.

29 Landowners, state decision makers Local partners & outlets (service centers, nature centers, visitor centers) Lake Associations Media work to new audiences Wetland Gems book distribution (schools, libraries, nature centers, nature book stores and gift shops) Foundation for future WWA programs

30 WWA Field Trip Series to Wetland Gems Promotion of events & programs at Wetland Gems Assisting landowners, Friends groups and other partners to continue to use the Wetland Gems designation to: attract additional funding attract more community support aid protection and restoration efforts

32 Ramsar International Convention on Wetlands Wetlands of International Importance

33 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Jordan, Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USSR, and the UK. Entered into Force in 1975

What Ramsar Does/Does Not Do Ramsar Does: Encourage nations to promote wetlands conservation and list wetlands of international importance as Ramsar sites Ramsar Does Not: Impose restrictions on

34 What Ramsar Does/Does Not Do Ramsar Does: Encourage nations to promote wetlands conservation and list wetlands of international importance as Ramsar sites Ramsar Does Not: Impose restrictions on nations and landowners Affect sovereignty rights site listing is voluntary Act as a regulating entity or a UN convention Provide wise use guidelines, training opportunities, and access to financial resources

35 Ramsar Worldwide 160 parties, including the U.S. (1987), Canada, Mexico 1898 sites nearly 460 million acres 30 sites in U.S. > 3 million acres

36 30 U.S. Ramsar Sites US joined Convention in

9 Ramsar Criteria 1. Site contains representative, rare or unique wetland types 2. Site supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species 3.

37 9 Ramsar Criteria 1. Site contains representative, rare or unique wetland types 2. Site supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species 3. Site supports plant/animal populations important for regional biodiversity 4. Site supports plant/animal species at a critical stage in life cycles 5. Site regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds

38 9 Ramsar Criteria 6. Site regularly supports 1% of population of waterbird species/subspecies 7. Site supports significant proportion of indigenous fish species that are representative of wetland benefits/values 8. Site is an important source of food for fish, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path 9. Site regularly supports 1% of population of species/subspecies of wetland-dependent, nonavian animal species

39 Survey of U.S. Ramsar Sites Royal C. Gardner and Kim Diana Connolly Environmental Law Reporter February 2007 Site s public identification with Ramsar Benefits of Ramsar Designation How to strengthen Ramsar in the U.S.

Benefits of Ramsar Designation Support for protection of site and surrounding areas Acquisition of surrounding lands Encourages watershed

40 Benefits of Ramsar Designation Support for protection of site and surrounding areas Acquisition of surrounding lands Encourages watershed conservation partnerships Ramsar label helps in response to proposed development and other threats (mining, development, logging, road construction, etc.)

41 Assistance with Grant Applications & Funding Requests (18/22) NAWCA Grants Land and Water Conservation Fund NFWF and Other Grants Benefits of Ramsar Designation

42 Benefits of Ramsar Designation Increase community/regional pride in site Increase community/regional awareness of importance of site

43 Wisconsin Ramsar Initiative Used Wetland Gems list to identify potential Ramsar site candidates Identified priority sites for nomination Supporting landowners & land managers of these priority sites in their efforts to nominate the sites

Wisconsin Ramsar Initiative Selected 11 priority candidate sites (in priority order): Kakagon-Bad River Sloughs Crex Meadows & Rice Lake Door Peninsula Coastal Wetlands (including Moonlight Bay, Mud

44 Wisconsin Ramsar Initiative Selected 11 priority candidate sites (in priority order): Kakagon-Bad River Sloughs Crex Meadows & Rice Lake Door Peninsula Coastal Wetlands (including Moonlight Bay, Mud Lake, North Bay, & Mink River Estuary) Lower Wisconsin Riverway & Wyalusing State Park Lower Chippewa River Delta Chiwaukee Prairie Suk-Cerney Wetlands (Necedah NWR) Cedarburg Bog & Mud Lake St. Louis River Marshes West Shore Green Bay Wetlands Bark Bay

45 Building Community Support Gold star Community pride Unique resource for attracting tourism (and related revenues) Media attention Social protection of resource

46 WITH THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS

Painting by Judi Ekholm

Painting by Judi Ekholm A statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and enjoyment of wetlands and associated ecosystems through science-based programs, education and advocacy.