Coming soon: resources for each topic on resolution
WHEREAS, Dragonflies are a sentinel species; their presence (or absence) is indicative of the health of our wetland ecosystems, and whether harmful chemicals such as pesticides, nitrogen, or bacterial contamination and pathogens, are present; and
WHEREAS, Pesticides and wetland modifications (dredge and fill) contribute to the human desire to enjoy mosquito-free wetlands. But, evidence suggests that unintentional consequences such as the disruption of marine and terrestrial food webs outweigh the benefits; and
WHEREAS, Ecosystem services include: flood and storm water control, surface and ground water protection, carbon sequestration, erosion control, water and air filtration, flood and extreme weather event buffers, habitat for a range of plant and animal species as well as providing food and spawning; and
WHEREAS; Wetlands are compromised when infrastructure is built directly behind wetland areas; coastal wetlands need room to expand and migrate inwards as the sea level rises and severe weather events increase; and
WHEREAS, Developments on tidal wetlands, dredging and hardening of the shoreline prevent important tidal flows that are part of dynamic sediment systems needed to build up wetland areas. Reduced tidal flows mean reductions in ecosystem services such as sediment retention, nutrient and organic matter recycling, storm, flood and sea level rise buffers.
WHEREAS, Healthy tidal and freshwater wetlands not only provide ecosystem services, habitat and sources of food for marine and terrestrial animals but, provide resiliency to our coastal areas by absorbing wave energy, storm surges and floodwater protecting infrastructure and saving lives; and
WHEREAS, Freshwater wetland areas polluted by storm runoff, mowed or modified with failing ecosystem services and biodiversity loss may become harbingers of new vector borne diseases that flourish as temperatures increase in the years ahead; and
WHEREAS, Scientific nature-based solutions offer powerful tools for addressing climate change related hazards. Dragonflies like damselflies, birds and bats are voracious predators: their numbers are decreasing and it is upsetting the natural balance.
WHEREAS, Pesticides and wetland modifications (dredge and fill) contribute to the human desire to enjoy mosquito-free wetlands. But, evidence suggests that unintentional consequences such as the disruption of marine and terrestrial food webs outweigh the benefits; and
WHEREAS, Ecosystem services include: flood and storm water control, surface and ground water protection, carbon sequestration, erosion control, water and air filtration, flood and extreme weather event buffers, habitat for a range of plant and animal species as well as providing food and spawning; and
WHEREAS; Wetlands are compromised when infrastructure is built directly behind wetland areas; coastal wetlands need room to expand and migrate inwards as the sea level rises and severe weather events increase; and
WHEREAS, Developments on tidal wetlands, dredging and hardening of the shoreline prevent important tidal flows that are part of dynamic sediment systems needed to build up wetland areas. Reduced tidal flows mean reductions in ecosystem services such as sediment retention, nutrient and organic matter recycling, storm, flood and sea level rise buffers.
WHEREAS, Healthy tidal and freshwater wetlands not only provide ecosystem services, habitat and sources of food for marine and terrestrial animals but, provide resiliency to our coastal areas by absorbing wave energy, storm surges and floodwater protecting infrastructure and saving lives; and
WHEREAS, Freshwater wetland areas polluted by storm runoff, mowed or modified with failing ecosystem services and biodiversity loss may become harbingers of new vector borne diseases that flourish as temperatures increase in the years ahead; and
WHEREAS, Scientific nature-based solutions offer powerful tools for addressing climate change related hazards. Dragonflies like damselflies, birds and bats are voracious predators: their numbers are decreasing and it is upsetting the natural balance.
