Photo: Neabsco Creek Boardwalk
Tom Blackburn
Each fall, I gravitate toward wetlands for my outdoor time. The green, gold, tan and brown of the late-season vegetation offset by the blues of wild asters and the white clouds of cattail fluff can be captivating, particularly on a sunny morning or afternoon.
You don’t have to travel far to experience the beauty of wetlands. Northern Virginia is home to more than 10 of these unique ecosystems. While Huntley Meadows is justifiably famous for the variety of its birdlife, Julie J. Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve is also worth the trip. The Preserve, which is part of Neabsco Creek Regional Park in Prince William County, is unique in Northern Virginia because it was created by Wetland Studies and Solutions, a for-profit company, as a wetlands mitigation bank. Developers buy credits from wetland mitigation banks to compensate for the impact of development on wetlands elsewhere. Creation of a large wetland mitigation bank also consolidates the wetlands into a larger complex, rather than creating small, fragmented wetlands that are not as hospitable to wetland birds and other wildlife. Birders have recorded more than 215 species at Julie Metz.
Wetland ecosystems are a vital part of the environment. They reduce flooding and erosion by storing rainfall and providing buffers against storms, and they capture sediment and store more carbon than other ecosystems. Tidal wetlands are also important “nurseries” for fish and provide food and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. Wetlands are the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems and are host to millions of migrating birds each fall and winter.
However, wetlands are increasingly vulnerable. The degradation and destruction of wetlands is occurring more rapidly than any other ecosystem due primarily to climate change, urbanization and pollution. The Global Wetland Outlook prepared by the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, reports that the world is losing wetlands three times faster than natural forests.
Get out and enjoy a nearby wetland this fall and winter! But remember that the price of enjoying these unique habitats is continued vigilance and support. You can help by making a donation to ASNV during this season’s Annual Appeal, by joining a Friends group associated with a wetland and by making sure your local and state governmental officials know how important the wetlands are to you and the environment.