Exploring Wetlands: Partnerships in Conservation and Cultural Preservation

Dining Wild participants gather at the LUCE St. Louis Impact Center to celebrate native plants and their cultural significance.

Wetlands offer more than wildlife habitats — they serve as vital ecosystems that connect people to nature and provide cultural, ecological and societal value. This message guided the “Not Just for Ducks: Reframing Marshes as Working Water Gardens” symposium at the 85th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, in January.

Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) proudly participated in the event through its Specialty Crops Program (SCP), an initiative dedicated to promoting native plants and their role in conservation, sustainable food systems and community engagement.

Frank Nelson of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Zack Miller with The Nature Conservancy and Dr. Nadia Navarrete-Tindall representing Lincoln University’s SCP co-organized the symposium. The event united diverse perspectives on wetlands’ contributions to biodiversity, flood resilience, sustainable food systems and cultural traditions.

Nelson highlighted the importance of collaborations like this symposium in raising awareness about wetlands' multifaceted value.

“At this point, we’ve lost nearly 90% of what we once had in Missouri," Nelson said. "The future of wetland conservation must come from multiple directions, disciplines and interests."

Demonstrating the cultivation and use of wapatos at the Finca EcoFarm, Lincoln University showcases its commitment to sustainable agriculture and indigenous crops.

Navarrete-Tindall presented “Growing Native Edible Plants for Food and Wildlife in Farms and Gardens.” She detailed practical ways to integrate wetland plants like wapatos (Saggitaria latifolia), a native aquatic plant with edible tubers harvested and used by Indigenous people for centuries. Her presentation demonstrated ways to incorporate wapatos into everyday spaces, such as backyard water gardens, to support biodiversity and create sustainable food sources.

A key theme of the symposium focused on the importance of wetland plants to Indigenous and local communities. For generations, these plants provided vital resources, including food, materials for tools and other necessities — with many of these traditions continuing today.

Dr. Nadia Navarrete-Tindall at the 85th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, showcasing her work on native plants through Lincoln University's Specialty Crops Program.

“Wetlands hold importance in people’s lives as well,” Navarrete-Tindall said. “Exploring plants growing in wetlands helps us better understand their historical and cultural significance.” 

As an addition to the symposium, the SCP hosted a “Dining Wild” dinner at LUCE’s St. Louis Impact Center, showcasing the culinary potential of native plants and celebrating their cultural significance. In collaboration with Chef Robert Rusan, the menu featured dishes such as wild leek and fiddlehead fern dip, wild greens soup, bison meatloaf with wild mushrooms, persimmon pudding with spicebush and cranberries, and mountain mint cheesecake topped with wild plum sauce. Edible ingredients came from the SCP’s Finca EcoFarm on campus or were donated by partners. The meal underscored the symposium’s themes, illustrating how native plants foster connections between cultures and nature while supporting sustainable food systems.

Dining Wild guests enjoy a wild rice dish, prepared with native ingredients to celebrate sustainable food systems.

The collaborative spirit of the symposium demonstrated the importance of partnerships in advancing wetland conservation. By blending diverse ideas and expertise, the event delivered a unified message that engaged audiences and reinforced the interconnectedness of wetlands, culture and conservation.

“Collectively, we can integrate our ideas for a stronger message and create greater awareness among a broader audience," Nelson said. "I believe this is a strength and the root of a good partnership."