From the Editor’s Desk

Greetings and Happy New Year! We all should be looking forward to 2021 for any number of reasons. Of particular note, a vaccine is being administered and with an effective vaccination program we hope to close the door on the COVID pandemic, although the virus may remain an major issue given the way some folks have responded to the crisis and will likely address vaccination. If wetlands and Mother Nature could speak, they and she might say they are hopeful for improvements in the way they will be Ralph Tiner treated with a new administration WSP Editor coming into power in the United States and also by the prospects of more global action to climate change. Unfortunately despite our best efforts, wetlands will remain a target for development around the globe given civilization’s motivation to convert them for economic gain. We’re still a good ways from building a strong and lasting environmental ethic in most modern societies. In our October issue, you got a glimpse of the efforts some groups and individuals are taking to improve public awareness and concern for Latin American wetlands. The Society’s initiative to advance a Universal Declaration of Rights for Wetlands is a major step in addressing concern for wetlands globally (see article in this issue).

In this issue, we include the proceedings from our December virtual conference (i.e., abstracts from many presentations) and a note on the 40th Anniversary awards, along with articles dealing with the rights of wetlands and Pennsylvania’s Quakertown Swamp (a SWS Wetland of Distinction), reflections of Indian scientist Dr. Nepal Chandra Nandi, a tribute to Professor Brij Gopal (who just passed away), and a commentary on use of plastics in wetland delineation. Steve Eggers contributed to our Notes from the Field section by providing many beautiful images of wetland plants in the Upper Midwest of the US and accompanying text.

I thank all who have contributed to this issue and to our 2020 issues. I also want to recognize and thank Kristin McGuine for her exceptional work with the design and layout of WSP during the past few years. This e-journal provides an opportunity for Society members and others to write about their projects, experiences, and concerns for wetlands. I look forward to receiving material for the rest of our 2021 issues. In the meantime, best wishes to you and yours for 2021.

Happy Swamping! n

ISSN: 1943-6254

2 / From the Editor’s Desk 4 / President’s Message 5 / SWS News 8 / 40th Anniversary Awards 9 / SWS Webinars

ARTICLES 10 / Universal RIghts of Wetlands: Further Perspectives on Shifting the Paradigm to Restore the Human-Wetland Relationship through a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands M. S. Fennessy and others 19 / Wetlands of Distinction: Pennsylvania’s Quakertown Swamp R. Messaros 21 / Reflections from Indian Scientist Dr. Nepal Chandra Nandi Interview by P. Sarkar 24 / Applied Wetland Science Has a Plastics Problem K. Harrelson 26 / Notes from from the Field

PROCEEDINGS FROM THE 2020 VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS Wetland Connections Over 40 Years December 1-3, 2020

33 / PLENARY PRESENTATIONS • A History of Wetland Connections: Reaching In and

Reaching Out • Wetlands wise use: Reframing for multiple worldviews • History of wetland science: role of the journal Wetlands and insights from wetland leaders

34 / SYMPOSIA • Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on wetland education:

Overcoming challenges and making connections using online and distance learning • Applied Wetland Biogeochemistry: Informing Restoration and Management • Overcoming: Wetland Research in Unprecedented Times

• Wetland ecology and management in China • Wetland Restoration: Dispelling Myths • After fifty years of ups and downs, what is needed for international wetland conservation to become a relevant force for the challenges of the future? • Connecting Wetland Research in Africa and Latin America:

Challenges for Management and Conservation • Evaluating wetland restoration under global change – how to improve best practices • Wetland Restoration, Function, and Inventory in the Rocky

Mountains • Wetland science and practice in the Oceania region • Updates from the States: programmatic news and changes from WA and OR

52 / LIGHTNING TALKS • Biology and Ecology • Education and Policy • Global Climate Change • Restoration • Management and Applied Science • Carbon and Biogeochemical Cycles • Biology and Ecology • Restoration and Management

65 / INDEX TO PROCEEDINGS, BY AUTHOR

68 / Wetlands in the News 70 / Weltand Bookshelf 72 / What’s New in the SWS Journal - WETLANDS 75 / Job Posting 76 / About WSP/Submission Guidelines

COVER PHOTO: Nebraska Sandhills wetland, USA in early October by Steve Eggers. (Note: Photograph was taken during what had been a wetter than normal year.)

Note to Readers: All State-of-the-Science reports are peer reviewed, with anonymity to reviewers. PRESIDENT / Loretta Battaglia, Ph.D. PRESIDENT-ELECT / Gregory Noe, Ph.D. IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT / Max Finlayson, Ph.D. SECRETARY GENERAL / Leandra Cleveland, PWS TREASURER / Lori Sutter, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR / Suzanna Hogendorn CONSULTING DIRECTOR / Michelle Czosek, CAE WETLAND SCIENCE & PRACTICE EDITOR / Ralph Tiner, PWS Emeritus

CHAPTERS ASIA / Wei-Ta Fang, Ph.D. CANADA / Gordon Goldborough, Ph.D. CENTRAL / Katie Astroth CHINA / Xianguo Lyu EUROPE / Matthew Simpson, PWS INTERNATIONAL / Ian Bredlin, Msc; Pr.Sci.Nat and Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, Ph.D., PWS MID-ATLANTIC / Jennifer Slacum NEW ENGLAND / Dwight Dunk NORTH CENTRAL / Christina Hargiss, Ph.D. OCEANIA / Phil Papas PACIFIC NORTHWEST / Josh Wozniak ROCKY MOUNTAIN / Ryan Hammons, PWS SOUTH ATLANTIC / Brian Benscoter, Ph.D. SOUTH CENTRAL / Scott Jecker, PWS WESTERN / Richard Beck, PWS, CPESC, CEP

SECTIONS BIOGEOCHEMISTRY / Lisa Chambers, Ph.D. EDUCATION / Derek Faust, Ph.D. GLOBAL CHANGE ECOLOGY / Wei Wu, Ph.D. PEATLANDS / Bin Xu, Ph.D. PUBLIC POLICY AND REGULATION / John Lowenthal, PWS RAMSAR / Nicholas Davidson WETLAND RESTORATION / Andy Herb WILDLIFE / Andy Nyman, Ph.D. WOMEN IN WETLANDS / Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Ph.D. STUDENT / David Riera

COMMITTEES AWARDS / Siobhan Fennessy, Ph.D. HUMAN DIVERSITY / Kwanza Johnson and Jacoby Carter, Ph.D. MEETINGS / Yvonne Vallette, PWS PUBLICATIONS / Keith Edwards MEMBERSHIP / Leandra Cleveland, PWS WAYS & MEANS / Lori Sutter, Ph.D. SWS WETLANDS OF DISTINCTION / Roy Messaros, Ph.D. Bill Morgante and Jason Smith, PWS

REPRESENTATIVES PCP / Scott Jecker, PWS STUDENT / David Riera WETLANDS / Marinus Otte, Ph.D. WETLAND SCIENCE & PRACTICE / Ralph Tiner, PWS Emeritus ASWM / Jill Aspinwall RAMSAR / Nicholas Davidson, Ph.D. AIBS / Dennis Whigham, Ph.D.

SOCIETY OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS 1818 Parmenter St., Ste 300, Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 310-7855 www.sws.org