Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. (EPA)
Defending Virginia’s Wetlands: Why we need them and what you can do to protect them, a free event from Chesapeake Bay Foundation, is scheduled for Tuesday, October 3, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.
There are many wetlands on the Northern Neck. You can find them on the US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory’s NWI mapper.
Details about the webinar
It’s hard to overstate the value of wetlands to people, our economy, and our environment. Virginia's wetlands, which have been under state protection since 1972, are at risk. During this webinar, we'll will share the value of wetlands—from protecting people and property and slowing shoreline erosion to providing groundwater recharge and habitat for birds, mammals, fish, and shellfish. We'll also discuss the protections Virginia's wetlands currently receive in state law, the agencies responsible for permitting and enforcement, and why these protections are at risk in light of the recent Sackett vs. EPA Supreme Court decision. You'll learn what's at stake and how you can advocate to prevent further wetland loss in the state. We look forward to a lively Q&A after the presentations.
Our expert speakers will include:
* Jay Ford, Virginia Grassroots and Policy Advisor, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
* Jonathan Gendzier, Staff Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
* Pamela Mason, Senior Research Scientist, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
If you have additional questions about the webinar, please reach out to Gabby Troutman, Virginia Grassroots Manager, at gtroutman@cbf.org or 804-258-1605.
About the National Wetlands Inventory
According to the About section of the mapper,
The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conduct a nationwide inventory of U.S. wetlands to provide biologists and others with information on the distribution and type of wetlands to aid in conservation efforts.
This web mapping application provides users with access to over 34 million features that represent the extent, approximate location and type of wetlands and surface water habitats in the United States and U.S. trust territories.
Users can navigate around the map using pan and zoom functions or use the find location button to enter a place name or address. Mobile devices can leverage the GPS functionality to zoom to your current coordinates using the Find My Location button. The application also provides the ability to download wetland maps (PDF) and geospatial wetlands data to your computer.