Institute for Wetland & Environmental Education & Research

Wetland Primer
What Can You Do To Improve Wetlands?


There are a great number of things that you can do, depending on the amount of effort you want to spend. Some are listed below. More ideas are given in "In Search of Swampland" (Rutgers University Press, 1999) which is available for purchase from IWEER.


  • Write your Congressional and state representatives expressing your concern for wetlands and ask them to act responsibly to support wetland conservation initiatives and to strengthen wetland regulations; make sure you write when legislators are voting on bills that affect wetlands - these letters have more impact than your vote because they deal with a specific issue that politicians can relate to.
  • Become active in local issues - attend conservation commission or state agency meetings about projects involving wetland alterations and support conservation and mitigative measures.
  • Seek nonwetlands for development and avoid or minimize wetland impacts during project construction.
  • Volunteer to help agencies and organizations restore wetlands.
  • Communicate the importance of wetlands and their protection to your family, friends, and co-workers.
  • Purchase duck stamps that support wetland acquisition.
  • Form or join a watershed association and support wetland conservation initiatives.
  • Seek an appointment to your local conservation/environmental commission and do your thing to help protect the environment.
  • Learn more about wetlands and give talks at local schools and libraries on wetland plants, wildlife, and conservation.


Previous Chapter: How Are Wetlands Being Protected?