The Wetland Guardians Program
Providing businesses with a seat at the table to protect one of Oregon’s most critical landscapes.
We need everyone at the table to preserve and steward Oregon’s remaining wetlands. That’s why we designed a program where businesses of all sizes can take a seat. Our Wetland Guardians was launched in 2023 to provide a solid, collaborative foundation of support. This is the business community will help guarantee TWC has the funding it needs to be the voice of Oregon’s wetlands amidst an onslaught of pressing threats. This program also provides our partners with opportunities to publicly display their philanthropic leadership. We have four tiers for you to engage, but first, and most importantly, here’s why it matters:
Why Wetlands, Why Now
Wetlands are misunderstood and underrated. Yet as our shifting climate challenges and changes Oregon, they’ll be required for a resilient future. Wetlands filter pollutants from nearby rivers and streams. They replenish groundwater - a critical role given a fragile freshwater reality. More than one-third of the country’s threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands. They sequester more carbon than forests and keep coastal communities safe from increasingly severe storms. The list of the benefits to our natural resources, people, and wildlife could go on. Yet, despite their intrinsic value to our present and our future, we’ve already lost 38% of wetlands in Oregon, and encroaching development is constantly threatening what remains. What’s worse: Earlier this year, a Supreme Court case slashed Clean Water Act protections for half the country’s 118 million acres of wetlands. Your support for The Wetlands Conservancy as we preserve, steward, and advocate could not come at a more critical moment.
The Wetlands Conservancy
The Wetlands Conservancy is the only organization focused solely on preserving and stewarding wetlands in the state of Oregon. And we have been at it for more than 40 years, and over those decades, we have earned statewide perspective and expertise. Today, TWC works on-the-ground by stewarding its many preserves throughout the Portland metro area, the Coast, and the lower Willamette Valley. We keep these places safe and healthy for migratory and resident wildlife, water quality, and in many cases, the local communities to enjoy greenspace near them. We also work behind the scenes with local allies and state policymakers, serving as a voice for wetlands and their benefits when the threat of development or draining is posed. To date, TWC has successfully protected more than 1,500 acres of wetlands between Portland and the Coast. In addition to preservation, stewardship and advocacy, to help ensure the benefits of wetlands are shared by all Oregonians, we invite Oregonians of all ages to experience wetlands first-hand and learn about their function and value.
Get Involved
The Wetland Guardians program encompasses four unique tiers. These are designed to provide businesses of various sizes and sectors with options that align with financial capacity, meet core values, and amplify the partnership to target audiences.
Tier & Benefits
The Wetlands Need Your Support
For more information on our reach and audiences, and to receive a presentation about how you can join our Wetland Guardians program, insert your name & email address here or reach out to Katie Ryan, Executive Director, at katieryan@wetlandsconservancy.org.
