May is the month to recognize and celebrate the wonderful ways wetlands enrich the environment and people.
It is a time to give back to the environment by learning more about wetlands and participating in the many scheduled events.
Wildlife Mississippi is proud to join with other federal, state, and private partners celebrating American Wetlands Month each May. Events are scheduled across the country to educate, involve, and engage Americans who want to better understand the value of one of Earth’s vital ecosystems.
Wetlands are among the most valuable but least understood of the natural resources. They provide rich habitat for wildlife. They are places in which many animals and birds build nests and raise their young.
We celebrate wetlands each May when they are teeming with new animal and plant life. Wetlands benefit our communities, as well. They replenish and clean drinking water supplies and reduce flood risks, provide recreational opportunities and aesthetic benefits. They serve as sites for scientific research and education, and benefit Mississippi’s vast seafood industry.
Wetlands are the link between land and water, where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the energy of the sun meet to produce a unique ecosystem characterized by hydrology, special soils, and vegetation.
Wetlands provide numerous benefits, including habitat for flora and fauna, improved water quality, flood abatement, water storage and groundwater recharge, reduced erosion, support of fisheries, and opportunities for education and recreation.
Wetlands may not be wet year-round.
Unfortunately, wetlands have been misunderstood for many years, often viewed as wastelands to be drained and converted to other uses. But if wetlands disappear, water will not be as clean, fish and bird populations will suffer, and the frequency and severity of floods will increase.
Americans have begun to recognize the value of wetlands, and the rate of loss has declined dramatically over the last 30 years. It is important that we continue to stop the loss of wetlands and begin to achieve a net gain through better management and restoration.
Many communities are now exploring how to best protect their existing wetland resources and restore some of the thousands of acres that have been lost or degraded. Learn how you can help by discovering more about wetlands and participating in events celebrating American Wetlands Month.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
