Salt air, strong tides, and serious bragging rights—welcome to Marsh Madness, Cape Cod–style. You don’t need a basketball bracket, a whistle, or a PhD in birding to play along—Barnstable Land Trust’s inaugural Marsh Madness is officially in session from February 22 – April 6. With more than 20,000 acres, Cape Cod’s marshes are the ultimate defensive line—buffering storms, fighting sea level rise, and taking on climate change like absolute champions. But the matchup is tough: according to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), 36% (roughly 7,000 acres) of our historic salt marshes have already been lost or severely degraded. All March long, it’s game on. Meet the marsh’s top contenders—from plants and birds to insects, marine life, and other habitat heroes (and a few notorious villains). Cast your votes, build bragging rights, score a chance at a prize package, and help crown Cape Cod’s conservation champions in this truly wild Marsh Madness match-up. Join the madness. The marsh is counting on you.