Why Wetlands?
May is American Wetlands Month. Throughout this month, we’ll be talking about some of the wetlands you’ll find around NYC and how we’re working to protect and restore them.
But why have an entire month for wetlands?! Isn’t it just a bunch of grass?
Well, for starters, they are the most productive ecosystem known!
Uh, what does that mean?
It means they help provide important benefits to the environment.
Wetlands…
- reduce flooding by temporarily holding and absorbing flood water
- moderate coastal storm surge
- help to control erosion and stabilize shoreline
- provide critical fish and wildlife habitat
- provide opportunities for recreation and education
In NYC, wetlands were once considered wastelands to be converted to other uses. The city now has only 1% of its historic freshwater wetlands and 10% of its historic tidal wetlands. Only recently has the importance of wetlands in densely populated urban areas been recognized.
Although we cannot get back the wetlands we have lost, we can work to preserve and protect what’s left. NYC’s remaining wetlands are mostly in Brooklyn (tidal wetlands around Jamaica Bay), Queens (tidal), and Staten Island (both tidal and freshwater). Although occupying relatively small land areas compared to their historic range, these wetlands provide important benefits to the city. For instance, the crucial role that wetlands play in the Staten Island Bluebelt system demonstrates their ability to improve water quality by removing nutrients, waste, and sediment from stormwater runoff. They’re protecting New York Harbor naturally!
So, by protecting and restoring wetlands, not only are we helping the environment, we’re helping ourselves.
