Hey kids, it's no mystery why we need wetlands

Attention, young environmentalists: Power up your computers — and your imaginations!

The deadline is approaching for the annual "Write On! Wetlands Challenge."

All students in grades K-8 are encouraged to create a children's book raising awareness of wetlands. The result will be a unique book — written and illustrated by kids, for kids — that increases appreciation for wetlands, one of our planet's most important ecological systems.

The nonprofit wetlands protection group, Environmental Concern, began the Write On! Wetlands Challenge in 2005. Aspiring sixth- through eighth-grade authors have the chance to write a children's book on a wetlands theme. Once a winning manuscript is selected, K-5th grade kids are challenged to illustrate the story. The book will be unveiled this May as part of celebrating American Wetlands Month.

For 2009, the Write On! Wetlands Challenge is to pen a mystery story: "The Case of the Missing Wetlands."

Of course, the real reasons wetlands are disappearing are no mystery. Some causes are natural, like drought, sea level rise and storms. But more often, it is humans who threaten wetlands. As we try to mold the natural world to suit us — filling wetlands for development, channeling streams, destroying vegetation, polluting waterways and more — we are having devastating effects on the incredibly intricate web of wetlands wildlife and functions.

The results are grave. For example, Environmental Concern cites a 1990 report by T.E. Dahl (Wetlands Losses in the United States: 1780s to 1980s) for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that estimates the United States lost over half of its wetlands in those 200 years. In some states it's even worse: California lost an estimated 91 percent of its wetlands, for example, and Ohio lost 90 percent. New Jersey lost about 39 percent of its wetlands.

Should these losses continue, we will have a horror story instead of a mystery. We would lose all of the free services and benefits we receive from wetlands. For example, one wetland acre can store about 1.5 million gallons of water, which means unsurpassed flood control. Wetlands improve water quality by trapping sediment, neutralizing chemicals, and absorbing excess nutrients. Wetlands are also very productive sources of food; although only 6 percent of the Earth's surface is wetlands, they produce 24 percent of our foods.

Wetlands are also critical habitat for wildlife and are fish nurseries for the commercial fishing industry. And they are a terrific source of recreation for people who fish, canoe and hike as well as those who enjoy photography and bird watching.

So if you are in grades six to eight and love wetlands — or are an aspiring writer who would enjoy leading other kids on a journey through a wetlands mystery — this is your opportunity!

Entries must be on the theme of "The Case of the Missing Wetlands." Each should be typed, double-spaced on standard lettersized pages; 16 pages long, with 20 to 40 words per page. Stories can be submitted electronically at educate@wetlands.org. Printed entries should be mailed to "Attention: Write On! Challenge" at P.O. Box P, 201 Boundary Land, St. Michaels, MD, 21663. The deadline for all story entries is March 1, 2009. So get writing!

For more information, full contest guidelines and tips for writers, visit Environmental Concern's Web site at www.wetland.org/education_contest.htm.

For more information about New Jersey's wetlands, visit http://www.thewatershed. org/wetlandguidesmall.pdf. And I hope you will consult New Jersey Conservation Foundation's Web site at www.njconservation. org or contact me at info@njconservation.org, if you would like more information about conserving New Jersey's precious land and natural resources.

Michele S. Byers

Executive Director New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Far Hills