AvanViveEco Solution: Wetlands

Wetlands Help Fight Climate Change

Coastal Wetlands are among the best marine ecosystems to fight Climate Change

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Ten Things To Know About Wetlands

1. If these ecosystems are not protected, they could release huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
2. Coastal wetlands are among the best marine ecosystems to fight climate change
3. Coastal wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, and generate more than half of commercially harvested seafood in the United States
4. A [recent] study… compared the carbon sequestration potential of a handful of marine ecosystems and found that mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows have the greatest impact on climate change
5. Coastal communities that support these industries depend on their coastal waters for continued seafood production. The quantity and quality of our seafood is directly related to the quality and extent of wetland habitats
6. Development and agriculture contribute extra nutrients, pesticides, and silt to local rivers. Runoff from hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, and rooftops is a leading cause of water pollution. Wetlands trap and filter these impurities, maintaining healthy rivers, bays and beaches
7. One reason coastal wetlands are such a good tool to cut emissions is because they’re fairly easy to manage
8. Wetlands protect you by absorbing storms, floods, and high waves.They stabilize shorelines and prevent land from eroding
9. Natural wetlands in coastal and riverine floodplains absorb floodwaters by acting as a natural sponge. Wetlands can lower overall flood heights, protecting people, property, infrastructure, and agriculture from devastating flood damages
10. Gender equity remains a missing element in mangrove conservation and management… It notes that women do much of the labor in maintaining mangroves but often have no ownership

Five Things You Can Do To Protect Our Wetlands

1. We can make decisions in our everyday lives which help preserve coastal wetland area and maintain their ecological integrity
2. Get involved by joining a clean-up in your community and spread the word
3. Reduce, reuse, and recycle your trash. One of the easiest ways to help the environment and reduce trash is to follow the 3 R’s every day. Bring a reusable bag or use a reusable water bottle. Compost. Donate clothes instead of throwing them away
4. Use non-toxic products for household cleaning and lawn and garden care
5. Choose native species when planting trees, shrubs and flowers, including wetland native plants where appropriate​

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#AvanViveEco  #Wetlands
AvanVive.com
Photo by:  Eric J. Safranek

Link to Full Articles:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wetlands-can-help-fight-climate-change/
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/coastal-wetlands-too-valuable-lose

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To learn more about what you can do to help protect our Wetlands and counteract Climate Change...

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