#71: Wetlands Rediscovered - Exploring Nature's Hidden Gems and Restoring Their Glory with Tom Biebighauser

Wetlands are phenomenally important to biodiversity, water quality, and flood control. Yet they are often overlooked and dismissed.Today's guest is Tom Biebighauser. Tom is perhaps the most enthusiastic wetland advocate that you’ll ever encounter. He’s been restoring and designing wetlands since 1979, and is widely regarded as one of the worlds experts in these endeavors.Today Tom sets the record straight for wetlands. We discuss the many types of wetlands that naturally occur, including my personal favorite, vernal pools, and what makes each of them distinct, including the plant and animal communities they support.Tom tells us about the benefits of wetlands, and why so many wetlands were drained over the years.The good news is that many land managers are recognizing the critical importance of wetlands, and are now working to restore them. But there is much more work to be done. Tom and his organizations offer books, training, and support for individuals and for organizations considering building or restoring wetlands. Did you know you can even create one in your own yard? And no, they won’t be mosquito magnets.It was a pleasure to speak with Tom, and I hope you enjoy this discussion as much as I did. FULL SHOW NOTESPeople and OrganizationsSheltowee Environmental Education CoalitionWetland Restoration and Training LLCBooksNote: links to books are affiliate linksEager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter - Ben GoldfarbWetland Restoration and Construction A Technical Guide - Tom BiebighauserWetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair - Tom BiebighauserPodcast Episodes We ReferencedBeavers with Ben Goldfarb Save the Frogs with Dr. Kerry KrigerThanks to Michelle Balderston for editing help in this episode.Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!