A heron hunts for fish in wetlands in Suffolk County, Long Island.

New York has long been a leader in environmental protection, and the state’s recent commitment to wetland preservation is part of that legacy. However, as the climate crisis accelerates and federal protections are rolled back, it’s clear that state-level action, while essential, is no longer enough.

New York must raise the bar and show other states and the federal government how strong wetland policy can deliver both environmental and economic benefits.

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Wetlands are not just ecological features. They are economic assets that protect communities from floods, filter drinking water, store carbon and support biodiversity.

One acre of wetland can absorb up to

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