Audubon Ties Great Lakes Habitat Restoration To Water Quality Improvement

摘要

The environmental group Audubon Great Lakes is highlighting a multi-pronged strategy to improve coastal wetlands in the region, arguing that protecting habitat for coastal birds will also have water quality benefits for humans and will make the region more resilient to climate change. "The loss and degradation of our region's coastal habitats from urban and agricultural development, invasive species, and a changing climate pose the greatest threats to Great Lakes birds," the regional office of the National Audubon Society says in a new report. "Investing in coastal watersheds now, especially wetlands, will create strongholds for bird populations in the future, mitigate water-quality impacts in both urban and rural areas, and make the region more resilient to climate change." Given the urgent need to protect and restore remaining coastal wetlands for birds and people, Audubon says it is investing in cutting-edge science to prioritize coastal wetlands for conservation action, studying the impact of climate change on birds, and developing a range of conservation management tools.