Wetlands Toolkit

wetlands-toolkit

_Image: Community mapping of Bayou St. John, New Orleans, LA._ ###Simple, appropriate technologies for community wetland management Managing wetlands is easier when communities and organizations can work together with a shared understanding of the science and policy involved. Through the educational, engaging, and empowering activities in this toolkit, community members can learn to more accurately monitor and recommend ways to improve urban wetland projects. **** **For Whom?** This toolkit was created for people living near wetlands, as well as for anyone concerned about or advocating for wetland health. **Why?** To support people with knowledge, skills, and attitudes, including: * information on what wetlands do, how wetland health is measured, and what can be gained through restoration efforts. * hands-on experience with primary research, computer science, map making, and advocacy techniques. * links between community priorities and environmental management priorities. **When?** This toolkit is designed to be deployed as a series of five in-person workshops each lasting around three hours, with an additional curriculum breakout for Louisiana schools. An individual might consider working through the content independently on their own time. **So That…** People living near or advocating for wetlands will be equipped to further monitor urban wetland restoration projects and work cooperatively with the organizations conducting restorations to recommend improved management practices. **What For?** After going through this toolkit, you / your group will have... * **Written** down the collective knowledge of the people in your workshop * **Diagrammed** stakeholders to identify who else needs to be involved * **Reached out** to not-yet-involved stakeholders in appropriate ways * **Compared** types of wetlands * **Reviewed** types of data indicative of wetland health * **Identified** what questions need to be asked in your wetland of interest * **Specified** steps in a research project to address your concern * **Observed** wind conditions on site and selected an appropriate aerial mapping method * **Assembled** a balloon, kite, or pole mapping kit * **Used** equipment to collect aerial imagery * **Stitched** aerial images into a map using mapknitter.org * **Read** relevant case studies where grassroots data is used for advocacy * **Designed** a campaign for using aerial data to communicate wetlands issues * **Implemented** a campaign for using aerial data to communicate wetlands issues **** ###[Workshop 1: Wetlands project? Start Here](/wiki/wetlands-project-start-here) **** ###[Workshop 2: Understanding your wetland site](/wiki/wetlands-101) **** ###[Workshop 3: How to Map](/wiki/how-to-map) **** ###[Workshop 4: Stitching images into maps](/wiki/stitching-images-into-maps) **** ###[Dig Deeper: Lesson plans for wetlands remote sensing and management](/wiki/wetlands-lesson-plans) **** ###[Workshop 5: After collecting the data, what next?](/wiki/wetlands-advocacy) ...