Add Your Name Below to Help Protect Ancient Fen Wetlands

Fens are a rare type of “old-growth” wetland that play a crucial role in climate resilience and are renowned as biodiversity hotspots.

These wetlands take thousands of years to form and are impossible to restore to their original condition once damaged, and can quickly go from being a carbon sink to carbon source – making them an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. However, fens lack the federal protections needed to remain intact and healthy in the face of threats including new dams, grazing, pollution, and other human disturbances.

Join forces with Wilderness Workshop, WildEarth Guardians and other allies in pressuring the Forest Service to safeguard these invaluable wetlands. Add your name to support our formal petition asking the Forest Service to provide stronger legal protections for fens!

Protect Ancient Fen Wetlands

Sign the petition

"We, the undersigned, call on the Forest Service to take action to protect fens across our National Forest lands. We ask that the Forest Service adopt new federal regulations to define “fen” by rule, and to prohibit damaging or destroying any wetland classified as a fen under that definition. We specifically request that the Forest Service adopt the regulatory language recommended in WildEarth Guardians and Wilderness Workshop's formal APA petition submitted to the Forest Service on October 23, 2023.

Fens are irreplaceable, ancient wetlands that support threatened and endangered wildlife species and contribute to the ecological health and resilience of our National Forests. Fens also play a key role in climate resilience as major carbon sinks. Protecting these delicate ecosystems is more important now than ever in the face of staggering biodiversity losses and the climate crisis. We ask for your leadership in securing the long-term health of our public lands and preserving these unique wetlands for future generations."

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Fens in Colorado's Homestake Valley are 10,000 years old and could be destroyed by a potential dam and reservoir. Photo credit above: Chris Cohen. Photo credit header: Todd Winslow Pierce.

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