Wetlands are phenomenally important to biodiversity, water quality, and flood control. Yet they are often overlooked and dismissed.The voice you heard a moment ago was Tom Biebighauser, my guest today. 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 GoldfarbSave the Frogs with Dr. Kerry KrigerThanks to Michelle Balderston for editing help in this episode.The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show