05/22/2026
Perhaps money does grow on trees — and in wetlands. 💧🐸
Wetlands are natural sponges that soak up extra water and filter pollutants, improving water quality and reducing flooding for nearby communities. These benefits translate into measurable boons for residents, economy and environment — especially when applied on a large scale like the H2Ohio program, a collaborative, comprehensive clean water program in Ohio that TNC helped launch back in 2019.
Wetland restoration projects from H2Ohio have proven to be wise, cost-effective investments where benefits outweigh the costs for people, businesses, governments and, of course, the environment. The data says it all:
💧 For every $1 invested in wetland restoration through H2Ohio, residents saw a return of $8 in economic benefits.
💧 H2Ohio generated more than $330 million in statewide economic benefits in 2024.
💧 Nearly 8.9 million Ohioans benefit from improved water quality because of H2Ohio projects.
Now, imagine the impact that a program like H2Ohio could have when scaled up to a regional or even national level. Programs like these remind us that nature underpins our economic prosperity.
Learn about more successful programs in the Midwest like H2Ohio that help uplift both our economies and our well-being. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/midwest-nature-economy/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x
