ARTICLES

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Those Dammed Wetlands

by Deborah Moore

The alteration of wetlands by dams is both pervasive and relatively unrecognized. While dams may transform the landscape to benefit some wetlands, on balance they have caused worldwide damage. A member of the recently formed World Commission on Dams assesses the historic effect of dams on wetlands and discusses a more ecologically sensitive future.

Deborah Moore is a senior scientist with Environmental Defense (formerly Environmental Defense Fund) and a member of the World Commission on Dams.

Mangroves and Shrimp Farms at Odds in Mexico

by Samuel Barron

Many espouse shrimp farms and other forms of aquaculture as an environmentally friendly way to meet the increasing demand for seafood and to avoid over-fishing. Here a journalist describes how the environmental friendliness of aquaculture depends on its location and construction.

Samuel Barron is a masters student of community and environmental journalism at the University of Texas in Austin.

Size Does Matter: The Value of Small Isolated Wetlands

by Raymond D. Semlitsch

While the regulatory landscape values larger wetlands over smaller ones, the ecological landscape presents a different view. Research in Carolina bays shows that small isolated wetlands play a crucial role in the biodiversity of wetland-dependent species, especially for amphibians.

Raymond D. Semlitsch is a professor of ecology with the University of Missouri in Columbia. His research focuses on amphibian conservation and community dynamics in wetlands.

Restoring Bottomland Hardwood Forests Within a Complex System

by Sammy L. King

Bottomland hardwood forests are among the most rapidly declining wetland ecosystems in the United States, and at the same time they are one of the most difficult to restore. Here the status of current restoration efforts and the ecological imperative for restoring these forests are examined.

Sammy King is a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Coast 2050: A Master Plan for Louisiana’s Coastal Wetlands

by P. Robert Viguerie Jr.

The comprehensive plan for the Louisiana coastline and its extensive wetlands marks a turning point in regional restoration planning. A member of a statewide coalition discusses the preparation of the plan and highlights its goals and programs.

P. Robert Viguerie Jr. is an attorney in private practice. He is a member and past chair of the board of directors of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.