Partnerships with Landowners
All ethics so far evolved
rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community
of interdependent parts. His instincts prompt him to compete for his place
in the community, but his ethics prompt him also to cooperate (perhaps
in order that there may be a place to compete for). The land ethic simply
enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants,
animals, or collectively, the land.
-Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
An increasingly popular way to strengthen wetlands protection is to foster
innovative public/private partnerships and promote landowner participation
in voluntary stewardship of wetlands. This fact sheet discusses ways the
EPA is encouraging partnerships with landowners.
Why Should Landowners Be Interested in Wetlands
Protection?
Wetlands conservation has positive, long-term impacts on the environ
ment, commerce, and quality of life. In contrast, continued wetland loss
has negative impacts on water quality, biodiversity, the economy, and
human health and safety.
Approximately 75% of the remaining wetlands in the lower 48 States are
privately owned. Recently, much of the national focus on wetlands protection
has been on regulatory programs. However, regulatory programs only provide
partial protection. In contrast, numerous voluntary programs in the public
and private sectors provide educational, technical, and financial assistance
to private landowners in protecting wetlands.
Landowner Assistance Available
Private landowner assistance and partnership programs among govern ment,
nonprofit, and private groups are areas of growing national interest.
The potential for voluntary programs to protect wetland resources is being
recognized by Federal, State, and local governments. EPA has actively
promoted landowner assistance and partnership programs through such activities
as
· American Wetlands Month
· Audubon's America
· the EPA Wetlands Information Hotline (contractor operated).
EPA also helped develop a pilot project promoting voluntary wetlands
programs in the State of Maryland. A report that came out of that project,
Private Landowner's Wetlands Assistance Guide: Voluntary Options for
Wetlands Stewardship in Maryland, is available by calling the EPA
Wetlands Information Hotline (contractor operated).
Upcoming Programs
Other States have indicated a strong interest in initiating a program
similar to the Maryland program, including California, Arizona, and Oregon.
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