Bird populations serve as key indicators of wetland health, revealing crucial information about these vital ecosystems’ status amid ongoing environmental challenges. In the Upper Midwest, particularly Minnesota, the loss of wetlands has been dramatic, with only about 5% of original prairie wetlands remaining intact, largely due to agricultural expansion and drainage systems.
The Duck Stamp initiative, launched in 1934, has successfully funded the restoration of around 6 million acres of wetlands; however, increasing hunter decline poses serious threats to conservation funding. A recent study highlighted how Minnesota lost 140,000 acres of forested wetlands between 2006 and 2020, raising alarms about the survival of bird species reliant on these habitats.
Read full story at www.jsonline.com
