Ecological Threats
Continued Decline of Wetlands Documented in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report
More than half of wetlands in the lower 48 states are gone, and losses continue, mostly in the Southeast, Great Lakes and Prairie Pothole regions.
Mar 22, 2024
WASHINGTON — A report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reveals wetlands – 95 percent of which are freshwater — covered less than 6 percent of the lower 48 states as of 2019 – which is half the area they covered since the 1780s. The report also identifies that loss rates have increased by 50 percent since 2009 and that without additional conservation actions taken to protect these ecosystems, wetland loss will likely continue, reducing ecosystem benefits for people and habitat for fish, wildlife and plants.
Florida Wetlands
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, "Florida lost more than 260,000 acres of freshwater, emergent wetlands during 1985-1996, and the rate of loss of this wetland type more than doubled as compared to the rate during the 1970's-1980's period. Wetlands, particularly freshwater emergent wetlands, are essential for waterfowl and other wildlife, yet losses continue. Since Florida became a state, total wetland area has decreased by approximately 44 percent."
U.S. Wetlands
While there continue to be threats to the nation's wetlands and those in Florida, there has been some success in restoring former wetlands. Those cases are mostly due to conservation easements on agricultural lands. See the 2019 National Wetlands Status and Trends report for more information.