EcoWatch: It’s time again for armchair activists to get active
“We can sit back, do nothing,
and watch our planet be destroyed. Or we can take action, become
advocates, and start making lifestyle choices that are kind to people and the planet.”
Kira Simpson, Environmentalist and Sustainability Expert
On August 9th, 2024, Hurricane Debby was an unwelcome visitor, leaving millions of dollars in damage from flooding throughout many parts of Florida. One crucial thing could have stopped a lot of the flooding damage: mangroves. These cornerstones of the ecosystem, with their tentacle-like roots, hold the soil in place and prevent erosion.
Mangrove trees act as an excellent windbreak, reducing wind speeds from storms as they approach land. The leaves, branches, and trunks of mangroves disrupt winds, decreasing their velocity and intensity before they impact shorelines and shoreline communities. While Mother Nature may occasionally destroy mangrove forests, the primary predator is man and their destructive machines.
Human impacts such as dredging, filling, water pollution from herbicides, and development can lead to mangrove erosion and habitat destruction. When mangrove forests are cleared and destroyed, they release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The number one pillager of mangroves is man.
Consider that the population of Florida has risen to a record high, crossing the 23 million mark. This surge in growth has been driven by the massive influx of people moving to Florida. Many will move into houses that are already built, but many newcomers rush to buy homes on canals or near waterways for the view or, if they are boat owners, to have water access. If mangroves are nearby, they often want them removed, not realizing their importance, and rely on developers to handle the problem.
Until recently, developers simply cut trees and mangroves, and if caught, would pay a fine. In 2020, Florida was allowed to take over issuing federal wetland permits. This was the ultimate prize developers fought for: having the permits processed by the Department of Environmental Protection, like giving developers Christmas presents year-round.
However, the adage of the fox watching the henhouse was deemed void by a federal judge recently, who ruled that the process the DEP used to issue permits was illegal. Florida lawmakers are now challenging his ruling.
Many agencies are ringing the bell on the continuous loss of mangroves and wetlands throughout the nation. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report shows that more than half of the wetlands in the lower 48 states are gone, and losses continue, mostly in the Southeast, Great Lakes, and Prairie Pothole regions.
“The reasons for these losses are multiple, but the results are clear – wetland loss leads to reduced health, safety, and prosperity for all Americans,” said Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The report serves as a call to action to stop and reverse wetland loss and ensure we continue to provide future generations with clean water, protection against natural disasters, and resilience to climate change and sea level rise, as well as habitat for many plants and animals.”
Consider that:
“Positioned at the transition between dry land and deepwater systems, wetlands are characterized by unique biological, chemical, and hydrological conditions. Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological, economic, and social benefits, as well as habitat for fish, wildlife, and a variety of plants. Wetlands hold and slowly release floodwaters, buffer against coastal storms, recharge groundwater, act as filters to cleanse water of impurities, recycle nutrients, and provide recreational opportunities for millions of people. Wetlands are nurseries for many fish and shellfish of commercial and recreational importance.”
Yet we continue to destroy wetlands and mangroves for development, regardless of the consequences to Florida’s once-pristine ecosystem. Florida has lost the most wetland acreage – 9.3 million acres. Let us consider the worth of wetlands, as reported by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
- More than 70 percent have been destroyed or impaired.
- Wetlands allow water to filter into groundwater aquifers, which are critical for our water supply.
- 91 percent of Florida’s population gets their drinking water from groundwater.
- Wetlands contain about one-third of the world’s carbon. When wetlands degrade, the emissions locked in their soil are released.
- One acre of wetlands can store over one million gallons of floodwater. Wetlands hold these waters and release them gradually.
- Up to 90 percent of sediments from runoff can be removed if they pass through wetlands.
- Wetlands are foundational to human health, water quality, drinking water resources, floodwater protection, fish and wildlife habitats, and resilience against the effects of climate change.
As you can see, wetlands and mangroves provide essential protection to Floridians. Let us not return to the good-old-boy practice of letting the state dole out permits and allowing developers to merely pay a fine if mangroves are destroyed for development.
Armchair activists and anyone else concerned about not letting Florida become a state of mass developments, a concrete jungle, can take action by contacting their congressmen and urging them to pass stringent rules on protecting wetlands. Urge Congress to invest in U.S. wetlands.
Get involved. If you see anyone destroying mangroves in wetlands, contact the EPA Hotline at 1-800-424-8802. Report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations at epa.gov/tips. You can provide tips anonymously.
An active hurricane season is still predicted and hovering above us. Hopefully, if you live near wetlands, they are alive and plentiful. If not, just cross your fingers, say a prayer, and hope for the best.
email: gaiasvigil@gmail.com
