No net loss policy in the United States

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"No Net loss" is the United States government's overall policy goal regarding wetlands preservation. The goal of the policy is to balance wetland loss due to economic development with wetlands reclamation, mitigation, and restorations efforts, so that the total acreage of wetlands in the country does not decrease, but remains constant or increases.^[1][2]

To achieve the objective of No Net Loss, the federal government utilizes several different environmental mitigation tools which legally protect wetlands, provide rules and regulations for citizens and corporations interacting with wetlands, and incentives for the preservation and conservation of wetlands. For example, compensatory mitigation, including wetland mitigation banking. Mitigation banking is a system of debits and credits that is market-based. It is used primarily in the United States as part of the No Net loss Policy. This involves a system of mitigation banks. This is an area where projects to restore and enhance the wetlands can be carried out in advance of impacts.

Given the public benefits provided by wetland ecosystem services, such as flood control, nutrient farming, habitat, water filtration, and recreational area,^[3] the estimations that over half the acreage of wetlands in the United States has been lost within the last three centuries is of great concern to local, state, and federal agencies as well as the public interest they serve. The world has lost over 87% of their Wetlands since the 1700's. [1]

Areas of land that are wet by surface water or groundwater for long periods of time so that the animals and plants adapt to them for a part of their lifecycle are considered Wetlands. This includes areas that are inundated with fresh or saline water. Lagoons, lakes, rivers, estuaries, swamps, coral reefs and seagrass beds are examples of wetlands.

Wetlands that are healthy provide services to local, regional communities such as nurseries for fisheries, tourism opportunities, grazing and agriculture. Swamps and rivers also provide a cultural focus for many different regional communities.

At a larger level, No Net Loss will only be achieved if the incentives in the system are aligned. The project needs to be designed in a way that is deliverable in ways that make it tangible, measurable and meaningful for both the people and biodiversity. The government organizations need to set clear and well-enforced legislation to ensure that the developers are not undercut by compensation. Developers should have incentives and be educated that on the topic. They should support positive biodiversity impacts and support a positively biodiverse outcome. [2]