Sustainability Champions Client Spotlight: Society of Wetland Scientists

The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing wetland science, conservation, restoration and education. Members range from scientists and researchers to educators and practitioners working across academia, government, and the private sector to protect and manage wetlands around the world. Through research, professional development and community engagement, SWS plays a critical role in promoting science-based approaches to environmental stewardship and climate resilience.

For SWS, sustainability is both a mission and a mindset. Marla Stelk, SWS’s new executive director, shares that it begins with ensuring that the organization itself remains “in good financial and organizational health,” allowing SWS to continue advancing wetland science and stewardship well into the future. At the same time, sustainability means protecting wetlands globally, so they remain “healthy and functioning in the face of climate change,” supporting ecological health and future generations alike.

That work is increasingly critical as communities look for natural solutions to climate challenges. Wetlands, Marla notes, play a powerful role in climate resilience, as they provide everything from floodwater control and storm surge protection to clean water and carbon sequestration. These systems quietly do a lot of heavy lifting, often without being seen, yet their impact is far-reaching.

Still, Marla is quick to point out that real environmental progress doesn’t only happen at a global or policy level. “Real change comes from the ground up at the local level,” she says, encouraging individuals to get involved with local conservation commissions, land trusts or community efforts that protect wetlands close to home. Stewarding these ecosystems, she believes, is a shared responsibility and one built through everyday actions that collectively make a lasting difference.