5,000 Acres Strong: LOTSWO’s Conservation Milestone – The Nature Conservancy

Report on Floodplain Ecosystem Services and Their Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Enhancing Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems (SDG 6 & SDG 14)

Floodplains provide critical ecosystem services that directly support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to water and sanitation. Their natural filtration capabilities are essential for maintaining the health of freshwater systems.

• Natural Filtration: Floodplains function as natural bio-filters, removing pollutants from river systems. This process is fundamental to achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by improving ambient water quality.
• Nutrient Removal: The vegetation and soils within floodplains, such as oak roots and prairie grasses, effectively absorb and remove nitrates from floodwaters.
• Aquatic Health: By reducing land-based nutrient pollution, these ecosystems protect life below water, directly contributing to the objectives of SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Empirical Evidence of Efficacy

A study conducted at the Lost Island-West Okoboji (LOTSWO) floodplain following the 2008 Cedar River flood provides quantitative evidence of this natural filtration process.

1. During the flood, nitrate levels in the Cedar River were measured at 8 mg/L.
2. Water that flowed into the LOTSWO floodplain and seeped into the groundwater showed a dramatic reduction in nitrate concentration.
3. Measurements of the floodplain groundwater indicated nitrate levels had fallen to less than 1 mg/L almost instantaneously.

Collaborative Restoration for Land and Partnerships (SDG 15 & SDG 17)

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has implemented a strategy centered on collaboration to protect and restore these vital habitats, demonstrating a commitment to SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: TNC’s model relies on forming key partnerships with local farmers and landowners to achieve conservation objectives.
• Conservation Strategies: The initiative employs several methods to protect water quality and wildlife habitat, including:
  • Voluntary land protection agreements.
  • Restoration of marginal cropland back into functional floodplains.
• Integrated Goals: These efforts are designed to enhance ecological functions while simultaneously supporting the viability of working agricultural lands, creating a sustainable model for land use.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on improving water quality. It describes how floodplains act as natural filtration systems that “remove nitrates from the water,” a key aspect of ensuring clean water resources.

SDG 15: Life on Land

This goal is relevant as the article discusses the protection and restoration of floodplains, which are vital terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The text explicitly mentions the objective of finding “ways to protect water quality and wildlife habitat,” linking ecosystem health to biodiversity.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article highlights the collaborative approach taken to achieve environmental goals. It states, “Our partnerships with local landowners and farmers are key,” demonstrating the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships between an organization (TNC) and local community members to achieve sustainable outcomes.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution. The article’s central theme is the natural filtration of nitrates from the Cedar River by the floodplain, which directly contributes to reducing water pollution.
2. Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The work of TNC, as described in the article, is to “protect and restore these vital habitats” and convert “marginal cropland back to functional floodplains,” which aligns perfectly with this target.

SDG 15: Life on Land

1. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. The project described focuses on restoring floodplains (inland freshwater ecosystems) to enhance their natural services, such as water filtration and providing wildlife habitat.
2. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity. The effort to restore floodplains is a direct action to counter habitat degradation and support “wildlife habitat.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article exemplifies this target by describing the partnership between TNC (a civil society organization) and “farmers and landowners” (private individuals) to achieve shared environmental and economic goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 6

• Indicator related to 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality): The article provides a direct quantitative measure of water quality improvement. It states that nitrate levels in the Cedar River floodwaters were measured at “8 mg/L,” but within the floodplain, these levels “dropped to less than 1 mg/L in the groundwater.” This change in nitrate concentration serves as a direct indicator of improved water quality.
• Indicator related to 6.6.1 (Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time): The article implies this indicator through the description of activities like “restoring marginal cropland back to functional floodplains.” The area of land restored would be a clear metric to measure progress in increasing the extent of these vital ecosystems.

Indicators for SDG 15

• Indicator related to 15.1.1 (Forest area as a proportion of total land area, adapted for wetlands): Progress can be measured by the area of land protected or restored. The mention of “voluntary land protection agreements” and the restoration of cropland implies a measurable increase in the area of functional floodplain habitat.

Indicators for SDG 17

• Indicator related to 17.17.1 (Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships): While no dollar amount is given, the article implies the existence and success of a partnership model. The number of “partnerships with local landowners and farmers” and the total area of land enrolled in “voluntary land protection agreements” could serve as tangible indicators of the scale and effectiveness of these collaborations.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: nature.org