Guided Review – Development and the Wetlands
Urbanization's Impacts and Sustainable Solutions
Overview:
In this guided review, you will learn about the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and uncover the impacts of urbanization. This review seeks to outline the potential ramifications of urbanization on wetland habitats and highlight the possible routes to creating more equitable and sustainable communities through responsible development practices.
Objectives:
Understand the importance of wetlands, both ecologically and economically.
Investigate the impacts of urbanization on natural areas.
Explore the sustainable development alternatives being implemented by various city and state governments.
The Wetlands Mapper Tool (Source: USFWS)
Overview:
The value of wetland ecosystems is difficult to overstate. Wetlands provide a habitat for endemic species, flood protection for nearby communities, and carbon regulation for regions throughout the world. Additionally, the economic impact of fisheries, recreation activities, and ecosystem services like water filtration make wetlands vital to the prosperity and sustainability of neighboring communities. In these resources, you will explore the services wetlands provide.
Objective:
Understand the importance of wetlands, both ecologically and economically.
Read:
Reference Material: “Why are Wetlands Important?”
In this summary produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, you will learn more about the valuable services wetlands provide and the natural characteristics that make them capable of doing so. For more information, explore the Wetland Fact Sheet series linked on the web page. Reflect on the following questions:
- Approximately how many of the threatened and endangered species in the United States are found only in wetlands?
- What are some animal species that rely on wetlands intermittently? What functions do they rely on wetlands for?
- How do wetlands provide flood protection? How has this protection been limited over time?
Reference Material: “Coastal Wetlands: Too Valuable to Lose”
In this overview from NOAA, you will find information about coastal wetlands, their benefits, and the challenges they face. Reflect on the following questions:
- What are the environmental protections offered by wetland habitats?
- How do the wetlands support fisheries throughout the United States? What might happen to the seafood industry if wetlands are severely damaged or reduced?
Reference Material: “Ecosystem Services of the Northshore Wetlands Reference”
In this reference from Pontchartrain Conservancy, you will find a summary of the economic value of some of the ecosystem services provided by Louisiana's wetlands. Reflect on the following questions:
- What is the estimated monetary value of the hurricane protection offered by Louisiana's wetlands?
- How is the water quality improvement attributed to wetlands valued?
- Why might the public undervalue these services? How can that perception be changed?
Watch:
Video (RT 2:25): “Wondrous Wetlands”
This short video from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department discusses the basics of wetlands and the services they provide to humans and wildlife. Reflect on the following questions:
- How much money do wetlands save cities and towns each year in cleaning costs to their water supplies?
- According to this video, what are developers required to do when developing wetlands for human use? Why?
Video (RT 4:51): “The Secret Life of Wetlands: Finding Solutions to Environmental Threats at UMD”
In this video produced by the University of Maryland, you will learn about the work they are doing to better understand wetland ecosystems and the threats they face. Reflect on the following questions:
- What role do wetlands play in the carbon cycle? Why is this environmentally significant?
- What are some of the results of wetland degradation mentioned in the video?
Explore:
Deep Dive Webinar (RT 40:12): “Wetland Ecosystem Services: How Wetlands Can Benefit Iowans”
In this webinar from Iowa Learning Farms, Dr. Kay Stefanik explains the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and why these are significant. Though this webinar is focused on the state of Iowa, the information Dr. Stefanik covers is relevant to wetland habitats throughout the world. Reflect on the following question:
- How is wetland soil different from the soil found in upland habitats? Why is this difference important?
- Why is nutrient removal a valuable function of wetlands?
- How is the Gulf of Mexico impacted by nutrient loss throughout the Mississippi River Basin?
Online Tool: “Wetlands Mapper”
With this tool developed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, you will be able to visualize the land area covered by wetlands in the United States. To access the Wetlands Mapper tool, review the information on the web page and click the Wetlands Mapper icon at the bottom of the page. Reflect on the following questions:
- Locate coastal Louisiana on the map. Approximately how much of the land along Louisiana’s coast appears to be a wetland habitat?
- How might threats to the wetland habitats of Louisiana pose a threat to the state as a whole?
Click here to complete the quiz for this module.
What questions do you still have? Where could you find out more?
A New Hampshire Wetland. (Source: EPA)
Overview:
As human communities grow, they tend to take up more space and utilize more resources. Resource consumption and urban development, if carried out irresponsibly, can lead to great losses in the quality and overall health of the surrounding environment. In the following resources, you will investigate the impacts of urbanization and land use on wetlands and other natural areas.
Objective:
Investigate the impacts of urbanization on natural areas.
Read:
Article: “Caution: Building in a Wetland Can Be Hazardous to Your House”
This article from National Wildlife Magazine details the consequences of building in a wetland and the lax regulations that have led to great losses of wetlands in the United States. Reflect on the following questions:
- What concerns do conservationists have over the Nationwide Permits covered in this article?
- What ecosystem services are put at risk by the small developments taking place in wetlands? What are the local and national consequences of these losses?
Journal Article: “Isolated Wetland Loss and Degradation Over Two Decades in an Increasingly Urbanized Landscape”
In this article published by the Society of Wetlands Scientists, you will explore the correlation between urbanization and the loss of wetlands over time. Reflect on the following questions:
- According to the article, four times more cypress domes were lost to degradation than to outright destruction. How did this occur?
- What does the term “fragmentation,” refer to? How might fragmentation act as a catalyst for habitat degradation over time?
Article: “Study Finds Staggering Economic Benefit From Protecting Wetlands”
This article posted by EOS summarizes the findings of F. Sun and R.T. Carson to highlight the relationship between wetlands and storm damage protection. Reflect on the following questions:
- How did Florida's decreased wetland coverage affect the cost of damages from Hurricane Irma?
- What counties are likely to save the most money in flood protection with the presence of wetlands?
Watch:
Video (RT 2:34): "Winged Wonders: Monitoring Wetland and Meadow Birds"
With this short video from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, you will learn about the impacts of human development on natural areas and the species that depend on them. Reflect on the following questions:
- How do humans and their pets disturb native species, sometimes without realizing it?
- The scientist in the video says that “meadows and the species that depend on meadows” are at risk without proper management. What does this imply about the species that depend on wetlands and other natural spaces affected by urbanization?
Video (RT 4:23): "Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems"
This video produced by USGS explains the various ways that urbanization affects stream ecosystems. Reflect on the following questions:
- Several indirect consequences of urbanization are listed in this video. How do these factors affect natural ecosystems?
- How long does it take for the condition of stream organisms to decline after development occurs in a watershed?
Explore:
Deep Dive Report: "Direct and Indirect Impacts of Urbanization on Wetland Quality"
In this report from the Center for Watershed Protection, you will explore the relationship between urbanization and the quality of the wetlands it impacts. Reflect on the following questions:
- Go to Page 35. How do "water quality stressors" negatively affect wetland ecosystems?
- Select one of the categories under “Cumulative Impacts of Land Development on Land Communities” (Page 50). What are the effects of development on that community? How might this, in turn, affect other wildlife?
Video (RT: 8:06): "Land Use (Urban Sprawl)"
This video from Bozeman Science covers land use and the increase in urbanization in recent history. In this video, Paul Anerson argues that it is not urbanization itself, but sprawling urbanization, that is a cause for concern. Reflect on the following questions:
- How has increased transportation infrastructure led to sprawling development in the United States?
- How does placing a boundary around a natural area protect it from development?
- Are boundaries around isolated areas sufficient for maintaining the quality of that natural environment? Why or why not?
Click here to complete the quiz for this module.
What questions do you still have? Where could you find out more?
"An urban sustainability roadmap." (Source: Committee generated)
Overview:
Though development can lead to great losses if done irresponsibly, there are alternatives being explored and utilized. State and city governments are exploring sustainable development in a variety of ways, from urban growth boundaries to land conservation easements. In the following resources, you will learn about these methods of responsible land use and investigate ways that communities can get involved.
Objective:
Explore the sustainable development alternatives being implemented by various city and state governments.
Read:
Article: "Goodbee subdivision reduced in size, remaining portion to be left as wetlands"
This story published by The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate covers the reduction of a planned subdivision in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Reflect on the following questions:
- How might this reduction in subdivision size help to mitigate the impacts of urbanization?
- Do you think all members of the community will be enthusiastic about this change? Why or why not?
Community Resource: "Urban Growth Boundary"
With this resource produced by Oregon Metro, you will learn about the urban growth boundary surrounding Portland’s metropolitan area. Use the tabs below the growth boundary map to explore the history and rules of this land use strategy. Reflect on the following questions:
- What is the primary goal of the urban growth boundary?
- How does the Metro Council manage the urban growth boundary? What criteria do they take into account when deciding whether the boundary will be expanded?
Deep Dive Report: "Enhancing Habitat Connectivity through Corporate Conservation"
In this report from the Wildlife Habitat Council, you will learn about the role of corporate responsibility in land use initiatives. Select one of the case studies in the report to read about the corporate conservation project it discusses. Reflect on the following questions:
- Resources in the previous module discussed the negative impacts of fragmentation on wetland quality. How can corporate investment into habitat connectivity help to maintain the quality of natural areas?
- How does the project outlined in the case study you selected seek to mitigate the effects of urbanization?
- What are the pros and cons of corporate involvement in conservation efforts?
Watch:
Video (RT 2:37): "Land Owner Benefits of Wetland Restoration"
This brief animated video from Graham Sustainability Institute explains the benefits that private landowners can get from wetland restoration. Reflect on the following questions:
- What are some of the benefits outlined in the video? What are the financial outcomes of these benefits?
- How can landowners contribute to wetland restoration and conservation?
Webinar (RT 35:23): "Why Worry about Wetlands? District Restoration Projects Explained"
In this webinar produced by the St. John's River Water Management District, you will get an overview of the restoration projects they are working on. Reflect on the following questions:
- How have the wetlands discussed in the webinar been impacted by urban development?
- How can sustainable development decrease the time and money required for restoration projects?
Video (RT 4:23): "Indigenous Sovereignty: One Land Plot at a Time"
This video from KQED follows Corrina Gould as she explains the goals of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust in East Oakland. Reflect on the following questions:
- This news clip discusses the cultural significance of land and how urbanization can negatively impact the communities that are culturally and spiritually connected to natural areas. According to Gould, how did this occur in East Oakland?
- The Sogorea Te’ Land Trust seeks to return Chochenyo and Karkin Ohlone land in the San Francisco Bay Area to Indigenous stewardship. What does this Indigenous women-led land trust achieve by providing a space for the Ohlone people to gather and steward their land?
Explore:
Deep Dive Book Excerpt: "Pathways to Urban Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities for the United States (Chapter 4)"
This publication from the National Academies Press explores the many facets of urbanizations and discusses various approaches to urban sustainability. For the purpose of this guided review, browse Chapter 4 and select a city profile to analyze.. Reflect on the following questions:
- What are the Major Sustainability Efforts listed in the case study you selected?
- How does the city aim to succeed in these efforts?
- What organizations and entities are the city in your case study partnering with? Are the majority of these organizations private or publicly managed?
Community Resource: "Louisiana Conservation Servitudes"
In this resource from the Louisiana Conservation Assistance Network, you will read about conservation servitudes in Louisiana. Reflect on the following questions:
- What are the options available for a private landowner in Louisiana who would like to contribute to land conservation in the state?
Click here to complete the quiz for this module.
What questions do you still have? Where could you find out more?
