On Earth Day 2005, President Bush announced a goal to increase wetland acreage in the United States, rather than just retain the existing acres.

In 2006, Bush announced a goal of restoring or conserving 250,000 additional acres of wetlands every year around the country to provide habitat for wildlife and help protect water quality.

Money is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help local residents play a role in expanding wetlands.

Through the agency's Wetlands Reserve Program, landowners can receive assistance for restoring wetlands that were drained so farms could be expanded or farmland that became a wetland because of flooding.

Department of Agriculture experts will be at the Colbert County Natural Resources Conservation Service office on U.S. 72 in Tuscumbia from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss the program. A meeting to explain the program will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Tuscumbia.

"The Wetlands Reserve Program provides assistance that can be used for restoring, enhancing and protecting wetlands on land that has been used for farming," said Kathy Gotcher, district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Colbert County.

Landowners can enroll their property for 30 years or give the Department of Agriculture a permanent easement. The landowner retains hunting rights and many other uses of the property even when an easement is granted, Gotcher said.

Landowners receive assistance from the government to restore or enhance the wetlands and then easement payments.

Restoration cost-share assistance is available to landowners who need assistance restoring a wetland but do not want to grant the government an easement to their land.

Gotcher said wetlands are important to wildlife and to water quality.

The Wetlands Reserve Program, which was created in 1985, has been praised by many wildlife and conservation organizations for its environmental benefits.

Ducks Unlimited touts the program as playing a vital role in providing habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

Ducks Unlimited Executive Vice President Don Young has said the Wetlands Reserve Program is great for wildlife and also for farms and ranches because it allows farmers to farm their best land and conserve the rest.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.