No net loss policy in the United States
Given the public benefits provided by wetland ecosystem services, such as flood control, nutrient farming, habitat, water filtration, and recreational area,[3] the estimations that over half the acreage of wetlands in the United States has been lost within the last three centuries is of great concern to local, state, and federal agencies as well as the public interest they serve.
[1] Areas of land that are wet by surface water or groundwater for long periods of time so that the animals and plants adapt to them for a part of their lifecycle are considered Wetlands.
Lagoons, lakes, rivers, estuaries, swamps, coral reefs and seagrass beds are examples of wetlands.
Wetlands that are healthy provide services to local, regional communities such as nurseries for fisheries, tourism opportunities, grazing and agriculture.
No Net Loss is a mitigation policy goal aiming to prevent and offset the destruction or degradation of wetlands.
During his presidency, Bill Clinton's administration reiterated the same pledge by endorsing and updating the No Net Loss policy.
[9] The Clinton administration's 1998 Clean Water Action Plan aimed for a net gain of 100,000 acres (400 km2) of wetlands each year.
[10] The administration of George W. Bush endorsed the No Net Loss goal in December 2002, when it released the National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan.
[11] Additional action by the Bush administration includes a push to clarify and redefine wetlands under the Clean Water Act.
This proposal, published on January 10, 2003 guided federal agencies to not require Clean Water Act permits for non-navigable and isolated wetlands.
[12] Obama campaigned to amend the Clean Water Act and to extend the Swamp buster program, however these commitments have yet to be followed-through with.
Restoring wetlands provides numerous benefits, and can present a valuable and cost-effective opportunity for society to enhance health and well-being.
[5] Restoration interventions can help to improve and bring back ecosystems previously impacted by anthropogenic disturbances, and often involves the purchase of uplands in a variety of conditions.
Due to the fact that 70% of wetlands[14] are located on private lands, cooperation between government agencies and landholders is a critical component of most policy implementation approaches.
Two recent Supreme Court decisions have impacted the definition of wetlands under the Clean Water Act: Rapanos et ux, et al v. United States (2006)Additional federal policy instruments include private-public sector collaborations such as educational efforts, conservation easement programs, land banking,[30] and numerous voluntary programs.
