In 2016, two of the most expensive natural disasters in the U.S. were floods in landscapes dominated by natural area degradation (Hurricane Matthew in the coastal Carolinas, and the Baton Rouge floods). In 2017, both Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have wreaked havoc in the U.S. South. As the severity and frequency of natural disasters is expected to increase, we must consider the value of natural ecosystems to buffer the worst effects of natural disasters and climate change. Wetland forests (bottomland hardwoods, isolated wetland forests, coastal wetland forests) span 35 million acres across 14 states in the U.S. south and provide over half a trillion dollars in ecosystem service value to the region. Major ecosystem services provided include aesthetic value, flood control, water filtration, and carbon sequestration. But many of these ecosystems are young, fragmented, even-aged stands that are not optimized for providing these ecosystem services. As a result, wetland forest conservation and restoration must be recognized as an urgent national, regional, and local priority. The Wetland Forest Initiative is working towards a vision of abundant wetland forests for healthy human and natural communities. Together, these environmental, governmental, conservation, forestry, landowner, and community groups are developing and implementing a regionwide strategy for conserving, restoring, and improving the southern wetland forest landscape. This symposium will demonstrate how a modern conservation initiative moves beyond specific areas of expertise (e.g., academia or “green” organizations) to develop the strongest plan for revitalization of a region’s natural resources. The presenters will discuss past experiences in conservation efforts, the state of affairs in the Wetland Forest Initiative, and their visions for the future.