Toward integrated wetland conservation: A diagnostic framework

Background/Question/Methods: Integrated environmental management and related approaches have been widely endorsed for emphasizing interconnections between water, land, and related resources and placing them within a broader social and institutional context. Yet there has been limited application of those approaches to wetland conservation. This article introduces an integrated wetland conservation (IWC) framework for analyzing and identifying opportunities for integration within state (subnational) wetland programs. The authors apply the IWC framework to an evaluation of the state wetland program in Wisconsin.  The IWC framework was designed by incorporating the key components identified as essential for effective and efficient management in the wetland conservation and integrated environmental management literatures.  Testing the utility of the IWC framework was accomplished through a semi-structured interview process with key Wisconsin wetland practitioners. 

Results/Conclusions: Results suggest that Wisconsin' wetland program currently has limited existing integration.  Opportunities to improve integration include utilizing watershed and related planning processes and strengthening mechanisms for interaction and coordination among stakeholders.  In addition, the authors found that the IWC framework is a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating the extent of integration within wetland programs.  

keywords: wetland, governance, watershed, integration, IWRM