Compensatory Mitigation and the Possibility of Restoring Natural Wetlands,”

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Interdiscplinary Environmental Review

Volume

10

Issue

1

Publication Date

Summer 6-1-2008

First Page

65

Last Page

84

Abstract

In this paper I address this fundamental problem: is it possible to restore a natural wetland? I will argue that the answer is no. Wetland ''restoration'' is not restoration in the strict sense. It is actually the creation of a new ecosystem of a distinct kind. I will argue that compensatory mitigation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act involves replacing natural wetlands with artificial, human-dependent wetlands. Under this program we are gradually losing wetland functions. Also, in our society we may not have the interest and the resources to properly support these new ecosystems.

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