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In general terms, wetlands are lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface. The single feature that most wetlands share is soil or substrate that is at least periodically saturated with or covered by water. The water creates severe physiological problems for all plants and animals except those that are adapted for life in water or in saturated soil. Wetlands are the cornerstone of many important and complex ecosystems. Their health and distribution in watersheds provide countless benefits for fish, wildlife, and people. Over the last 200 years, more than 50 percent of our nations wetlands have been lost and many of the over 100 million acres of remaining wetlands are degraded. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others in many ways to protect and restore wetlands and the species that depend on them. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z A- B- C The Service provides grants to States and Territories for coastal wetlands conservation. Between $11 and 15 million is awarded annually through a competitive process. See: http://www.fws.gov/cep/cwgcover.html. · Coastal partnerships with other agencies The Coastal Program works with other Federal and non-federal partners to conserve and restore coastal habitats. Working in 15 high-priority coastal ecosystems, the Service and partners have restored wetlands, protected coastal habitats through easements, reopened coastal streams for fish passage, and restored stream-side habitat. To learn more: http://www.fws.gov/cep/cepcode.html.
Pollution is one of the American public's greatest environmental concerns, and wetlands have been severely affected. The Service is dedicated to protecting wildlife and their habitat from pollution's harmful effects. Service professionals specialize in detecting toxic chemicals; assessing their effects; and preventing harm to fish, wildlife, and their habitats for the enjoyment of people. For more information, see: http://www.fws.gov/contaminants. · courses in conservation for adults - National Conservation Training Center D
- The sale of Duck Stamps buys lands and waters for National Wildlife Refuges. The sale of Junior Duck Stamps funds wetlands conservation and education. The Federal Duck Stamp and the Junior Duck Stamp contests are the only Federal art contests. The Duck Stamp is one of the most successful wetland conservation ventures in existence. For information: http://duckstamps.fws.gov/· Duck Stamp revenue buys habitat and is a fun art contest · dredge and fill, Clean Water Act, Section 404, project review E
- Endangered Species Recovery. The Service estimates that 46% of U.S. endangered plants and animals depend on wetlands for their survival. In addition to wetlands- dependent birds and fish, 72% of freshwater mussels are imperiled and 40% of amphibians are imperiled or vulnerable. In working with others to recover endangered species, the Service is also protecting and restoring the wetlands on which they depend. Read more at: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/index.html. · Endangered Species Bulletin F
- Wetlands play a critical role in the life cycle of fish species. Today, 37% of U.S. fish species are imperiled, with 116 listed as endangered or threatened. To protect declining fish species the Service works closely with people, States, and Tribes to conserve and rehabilitate wetlands and aquatic habitats. For the fisheries habitat initiative see: http://fisheries.fws.gov/CAF/Habitat.htm. · Fish
passage restoration through local partnership G
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- Non-native plants and animals severely impact our Nations lands and waters, including habitat resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Service is working to prevent and control invasive species that can displace native species, radically change the habitats they invade, and impact human health by transmitting disease. See: http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Issues/InvasiveSpecies.cfm. J
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- The Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife program has worked with more than 27,000 farmers, ranchers, and other landowners who want to restore wetlands on their land. The program benefits the landowner and the public by improving or providing habitat for fish, wildlife and plants, improving water quality and watershed health, and reducing pollution. The Service enlists the assistance of a wide variety of other partners to restore habitat on private lands. For information see: http://www.fws.gov/partners/index.htm · partnering
with landowners to cost-share habitat restoration R
- National Wildlife Refuges have an important role in protecting and restoring wetland habitat. Many Refuges were established to protect large wetland ecosystems such as the Okefenokee NWR in Georgia, Laguna Acosta NWR in Texas, Salton Sea NWR in California, and Yukon Delta NWR in Alaska. There are more than 530 Refuges that protect wetlands and other habitats important to fish and wildlife. For more information see: http://refuges.fws.gov/. · Restoration
Projects: S
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