Like most wetlands in the United States, those in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are at risk. Recognizing this risk, the signatories of the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement signed the Chesapeake Bay Wetlands Policy which focuses on attaining an immediate goal of no net loss of wetlands and ultimately on achieving a net gain in wetlands. This guidance document focuses on the use of mitigation (which includes compensatory mitigation) to restore and protect wetlands. This document greatly expands the scope of the mitigation process, incorporating the landscape as a primary consideration in the management of an affected wetland parcel.