World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on February 2, provides an opportunity to appreciate the importance of wetlands for people and the planet. According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. To date, Montana is estimated to have lost 27% of its wetland area.
DEQ notes that Wetlands are critical in the fight against climate change and play a role in moderating stream flows, improving water quality, protecting against flooding and erosion, and providing critical habitats for many fish and wildlife.
Check out the DEQ social media campaign this week in celebration, protection, and restoration of Montana’s wetlands by tracking the following hashtags: #MontanaWetlands, #WorldWetlandsDayMT, #MTWetlandCouncil, and #WetlandWatershedAwards and #WorldWetlandsDay2023. Selected photos will be displayed in the Holter Art Museum in Helena during the Montana Watershed and Wetland Stewardship Awards in late April.
