Episode 141: Tom Biebighauser Gives A Wetland Rewilding Masterclass
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Tom Biebighauser, Wetland Restoration Expert
Since 1979, Tom Biebighauser has enthusiastically restored wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers. He has designed over 10,000 wetland projects and successfully supervised the construction of more than 3,000 wetlands and streams in 26 states, three Canadian provinces, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan. He has a deep and long-standing concern for the environment and finds it rewarding to assist individuals interested in restoring wetlands and streams.
Tom worked as a Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Forest Service for 34 years, helping personnel from federal, state, and county agencies initiate wetland and stream restoration programs across the Country. During his career with the Forest Service, he led the completion of hundreds of partnership projects to build emergent, ephemeral, forested, peatland, shrub, and wet-meadow wetlands on public and private lands.
Tom’s passion for restoring wetlands has been recognized with 45 awards, including the Robert Lauderdale Award from the Kentucky Water Research Institute in 2023. You can read more about Tom and his work on his site.
Show Notes
Wetland Restoration: Challenges, Benefits, and Hands-On Learning
In this episode of the Rewilding Earth podcast, Tom Biebigauser discusses the importance of wetland rewilding and shares his approach to educating and involving people in these efforts. Topics include identifying signs of drained wetlands, the biodiversity supported by wetlands, the historical reasons for wetland drainage, and the methods used to restore these vital ecosystems. Tom also highlights his hands-on workshops, the benefits of wetlands for flood control and groundwater recharge, and inspiring stories of individuals and communities working to bring back wetlands.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:10 The Importance of Wetlands
01:50 Identifying and Rewilding Wetlands
02:18 Types of Wetlands
03:40 Challenges in Wetland Restoration
05:09 Voluntary Wetland Rewilding
05:44 Community Involvement in Wetland Projects
09:42 Success Stories in Wetland Restoration
12:28 Building Wetlands: Techniques and Tips
20:11 The Science and Benefits of Wetlands
32:25 Wetland Loss and Restoration Efforts
35:41 Beavers and Wetland Restoration
39:24 Conclusion and Call to Action
Extra Credit
- Learn more about wetland rewilding and gather all the necessary resources to take action on your own wetland restoration projects where you live! It’s all on Tom’s website!
- New Report for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: How We and Our Wetlands Rely on Wild Animals
Director of Digital Outreach (D.O.D.O.) for The Rewilding Institute
Host and Producer of the Rewilding Earth Podcast
Jack started Rewilding work as Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance in the mid-1990’s, organizing the Sky Island Wildlands Network design, ripping up illegal roads on forest service lands, installing wolf acclimatization pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch & conducting howling surveys to help make way for the final stage of the Lobo reintroduction program in the Southwest.
Through the years, Jack has worked with Dave Foreman and the Rewilding Gang to further Rewilding initiatives and education.