Ask a Scientist: What Value Do Wetlands Provide?

Last updated: February 13, 2025 9:47 pm

Protecting Wetlands: A Critical Task for Environmental Preservation

Wetlands are a vital part of the ecosystem in the United States, covering an area larger than the state of California. Despite their importance, many wetlands lack adequate protection from development and other threats. Stacy Woods, research director for the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, has dedicated her career to studying the impact of agriculture on wetlands and the environment.

In a recent report titled Wetlands in Peril, Dr. Woods highlights the significant benefits that wetlands provide to society and the urgent need for conservation efforts.

Understanding the Value of Wetlands

Wetlands play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by storing carbon and providing habitats for endangered species. They also serve as natural water filters, preventing harmful pollutants from entering our water supply. Additionally, wetlands help protect communities from flooding by absorbing excess water and releasing it slowly into groundwater and waterways.

The Threat to Wetlands

Despite their importance, the US has lost half of its wetlands since its founding, with agriculture being a major contributor to this loss. Large corporate farms often drain wetlands to expand cropland, leading to the destruction of vital ecosystems. The recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency has further weakened protections for wetlands, making them more vulnerable to degradation.

The Financial Impact of Wetland Loss

Dr. Woods’ research estimates that wetlands in the Upper Midwest prevent billions of dollars in flood damage each year. These natural flood mitigation benefits are essential for protecting communities from the impact of extreme weather events. The long-term savings from preserved wetlands are significant and underscore the need for conservation efforts.

See also Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicaid My Administration has been relentlessly committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs to preserve and protect them for those who rely most on them. The Medicaid program was designed to be a program to compassionately provide taxpayer dollars to healthcare providers who offer care to the most vulnerable Americans. To keep payments reasonable, billable costs for such care were historically capped at the same level that healthcare providers could receive from Medicare. The State and Federal Governments jointly shared this cost burden to ensure those of lesser means did not go untreated. Under the Biden Administration, States and healthcare providers were permitted to game the system. For example, States "taxed" healthcare providers, but sent the same money back to them in the form of a "Medicaid payment," which automatically unlocked for healthcare providers an additional "burden-sharing" payment from the Federal Government. Through this gimmick, the State could avoid contributing money toward Medicaid services, meaning the State no longer had a reason to be prudent in the amount of reimbursement provided. Instead of paying Medicare rates, many States that utilize these arrangements now pay the same healthcare providers almost three times the Medicare amount, a practice encouraged by the Biden Administration. These State Directed Payments have rapidly accelerated, quadrupling in magnitude over the last 4 years and reaching $110 billion in 2024 alone. This trajectory threatens the Federal Treasury and Medicaid's long-term stability, and the imbalance between Medicaid and Medicare patients threatens to jeopardize access to care for our seniors. I pledged to protect and improve these important Government healthcare programs for those that rely on them. Seniors on Medicare and Medicaid recipients both deserve access to quality care in a system free from the fraud, waste, and abuse, that enriches the unscrupulous and jeopardizes the programs themselves. We will take action to continue to love and cherish the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure they are preserved for those who need them most. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP

Protecting Wetlands for a Sustainable Future

Conservation programs, such as those offered by the USDA, play a crucial role in preserving wetlands. By adequately funding these programs, Congress can support farmers in restoring wetlands on their land and adopting sustainable farming practices. The upcoming federal food and farm bill presents an opportunity to strengthen conservation efforts and protect wetlands for future generations.

It is essential for individuals to advocate for the protection of wetlands by reaching out to their representatives and urging them to support conservation programs in the upcoming farm bill. By working together, we can ensure the preservation of wetlands and the valuable services they provide to our communities and the environment.