Ecological and social value of wetland restoration programs on privately owned land in Northern New York

Background/Question/Methods

Wetland restoration is a conservation tool used by government agencies and non-profit organizations to compensate for past and present losses of wetland habitats. While most wetland restoration projects are completed on public property, there is a consensus among the restoration community that the greatest need for restoration is on private property, as this is where the greatest losses have occurred. There are two federal programs that restore wetlands on private property: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (Partners) and National Resource Conservation Service Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). While these programs can be considered successful in terms of area of wetland restored, lack of post-restoration monitoring has raised questions regarding whether programs are meeting their goals of providing high quality habitat for wetland-dependent species. We conducted a 4 year study assessing the relationships between the ecological value, landowner valuation and stewardship activities at 30 Partners and WRP restorations. The objective of this study is to provide a scientific basis upon which restoration program personnel can make management recommendations to landowners for the benefit of both human and natural systems.

Results/Conclusions

To determine if restorations provide high-quality habitat we compared common ecological community metrics (species richness, abundance, diversity) between a subset of restorations (n = 14) to paired natural reference wetlands. Results indicated that bird, amphibian, reptile, fish and plant communities did not differ between restored and natural sites. We then administered detailed surveys to landowners assessing stewardship activities and the social and economic benefits of program participation. Preliminary results from surveys indicate that landowners downplayed monetary benefits and emphasized benefits such as enhanced recreational opportunities. Of the landowners that identified themselves as farmers, 83% identified the main reason for participation was to gain compensation for land that cannot otherwise be economically cultivated. The majority (73%) of landowners reported actively manage restoration sites. Of these, 45% regulate water levels, 36% have planted desirable species and 22% stock ponds with native and non-native fish. We are currently using correlation and regression analysis to explore potential relationships between ecological community data, landowner valuation and stewardship activities. This research has direct implications for wetland restoration policy and practice in human-dominated landscapes.