When it comes to wetlands as ecosystems, resilience is a concept that describes ecosystems’ capacity to persist in their present state when facing natural forces such as droughts, floods, and wildfires. In some cases, resilience refers to the rate at which the ecological system has the ability and capacity to return to its equilibrium. Wetlands have the natural capacity to manage change, regardless of whether water level changes, temperature changes, chemistry, or other factors might impact the overall wetland condition.
Wetlands are precious resources that provide essential ecosystem services to communities. Many scientists and ecologists agree that wetlands provide disproportionately more ecosystem services than other ecosystems. Wetlands filter out the sediments, nutrients, and other harmful pollutants to humans. They can capture, store, and slowly release stormwater runoff and snowmelt. This slows down the water flow, reduces the flood peaks, increases infiltration, and provides a steady source of base flow to lakes and streams. Additionally, wetlands are habitats for many fish species, which are essential economic assets and support plants and wildlife, making the wetlands an ideal place for recreation.
Despite their natural benefits, wetlands are still vulnerable to changes in landscapes and the weather patterns resulting from climate change. Even the slightest imbalance in the narrow hydrological ‘bandwidth,’ such as too much or too little water, can have immense consequences for wetlands. Sediments, nutrients, invasive species, and other inputs arising from landscape changes can impair wetlands’ ability to provide resiliency. Extreme weather events due to climate change, including increased sea level, unplanned land-use practices and alterations, and super-fast urbanization, directly impact the wetlands. These ecosystems are threatened worldwide, and all factors can potentially lead to a cascade of ecological consequences, such as acidification, harmful algae blooms, hypoxia, contamination of drinking water aquifers, and loss of biodiversity.
Opinion: Could Cattle Farming Protect Wetlands?
As previously mentioned, wetlands provide numerous benefits, including economic benefits, and support the resiliency of our agricultural landscapes. Wetlands have an astounding ability to sequester carbon and filter water, support pollinators and biodiversity, and provide wildlife habitat, including many endangered species. Humans can use these benefits in a rationally and environmentally friendly way. Approximately 25 % of the world’s wetlands are found in Canada.
Farmers are among those who experience the adverse effects of climate change daily. Concurrently, this group of individuals commonly receives a substantial amount of blame for the changing climate. Still, in Canada, farmers and ranchers possess some of the most promising solutions to climate mitigation. Raising cattle helps in the preservation of wetland ecosystems. In Canada, the landscape is suitable for raising beef cattle while supporting natural systems. With proper management and strategies, cattle farming can successfully co-exist and provide environmental co-benefits to ecosystems like wetlands.
More and more cattle farmers are becoming aware of new farming methods and are investing in their business to protect wetlands. Some of these measures include solar-powered water troughs and strategic cattle movement at certain times of the year. This has positive benefits for both ranchers and nature: habitat preservation is crucial for the health and the vitality of the land and animals, and it is fundamentally connected with the sustainability of their business.
The overlapping uses of growing food and conservation are assets that need to be valued and responsibly managed. To conserve nature, farmers must nature to use the lands responsibly and with an appreciation of their invaluable worth. Farmers from across the globe need to start applying these techniques and support the resiliency of the landscapes long into the future.
Sources:
Bhattachan, A. et al. (2018). Sea level rise impacts on rural coastal social-ecological systems and the implications for decision making. Environmental Science and Policy, 90, 122-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.10.006
Chescheir, G.M., Skaggs, R.W., Gilliam, Wendell, & Broadhead, R. (1991). Hydrology of two forested wetlands that receive pumped agricultural drainage water in Eastern North Carolina. Wetlands, 11, 29-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03160839
Heffernan Lab. (n.d.). Wetland resilience and self-organization. Duke University. https://heffernanlab.weebly.com/wetland-resilience.html
Matson, P.A., Parton, W.J., Power, AG, & Swift, M.J. (1997). Agricultural intensification and ecosystem properties. Science, 277(5325), 504-509. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.277.5325.504
Ribaudo, M., Delgado, J., Hansen, L., Livingston, M., Mosheim, R., & Williamson, J. (2011). Nitrogen in agricultural systems: Implications for conservation policy. United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. 10.2139/ssrn.2115532.
Tapley, K. (2022). Opinion: Wetlands and resilient landscapes. A match made in Canada. Canadian Cattlemen. https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/news/opinion-wetlands-and-resilient-landscapes-a-match-made-in-canada/