Conserving Small Wetlands in the Hudson Valley
Small wetlands are some of the most ecologically and economically valuable habitats in the Hudson Valley-but they are also one of the most threatened. The Hudson River Estuary Program provides technical assistance and outreach to communities that are interested in conserving important habitats at the local level. Wetlands are a conservation target in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda’s Goal 3, which outlines a strategy for conserving the plants, animals, and habitats of the Hudson Valley.
Wetlands and Climate Change
Wetland managers face a new set of challenges when addressing the impacts from global climate change. Wetlands are at risk of rapidly declining in quantity and quality due to impacts associated with climate change. However, wetlands also provide an effective strategy for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Sea level rise, carbon sequestration, and invasive species are among the many topics in recent discussions about wetlands and climate change.
Planner’s Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments
Based on the Environmental Law Institutes’s detailed examination of more than 50 enacted wetland buffer ordinances around the nation and nine model ordinances, as well as several hundred scientific studies and analyses of buffer performance, the Planner’s Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments identifies both the state-of-the-art and the range of current practice in protection of wetland buffers by local governments. The Guide provides to local governments considering enacting or amending a wetland buffer ordinance what they need to know to manage land use and development in these important areas.
Wetland Words and What They Mean
In a series of articles, various terms and words used by wetland professionals will be explored. This article will look at wetland terms related to soils, and how soils are reviewed by the wetland professional in assessing the conditions of a site.