World Wetlands Day: All About Wetlands

Wetlands are an extremely important environmental asset, having huge biodiversity compared to other areas of the world. Throughout history they have been integral to human survival and development. They exist in every country and in every climatic zone, from the polar regions to the tropics.

Swamps: An important wetland habitat.

Wetlands are dynamic and variable. They can be freshwater, brackish or saline, seasonal or permanent, inland, coastal, natural or man-made.

Up to 42 types different of wetlands have been formally identified, some of these include:

• Lakes 
• Rivers
• Mangroves
• Swamps and marshes 
• Floodplains
• Bogs and fens
• Coral reefs

Wetlands are vulnerable to over-exploitation due to their abundance of water and natural resources such as fish. They are often targeted for drainage and conversion due to development pressures. The rate of loss and deterioration of wetlands is accelerating in all regions of the world. It is expected that the pressure on wetlands will intensify in the coming years due to increasing demand for land and water.

The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 and is the international treaty dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It recognises the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their scientific, economic and recreational values.

 

 
Ecosystem Services: The Value of Wetlands to People

Wetlands are highly efficient at absorbing chemicals, filtering pollutants and sediments, breaking down suspended solids and neutralising harmful bacteria. As well as being the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, they provide valuable ecosystem services to people throughout the world.

The most significant social and economic benefit that wetlands provide is flood control. Peatlands and wet grasslands can act like sponges, absorbing rainfall and controlling the flow into rivers and streams.

Coastal wetlands such as reefs, saltmarshes and mangroves act as frontline defences against natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis. The roots of wetland plants bind the shoreline together, providing a strong barrier that slows down storm surges and tidal waves, thereby reducing their height and destructive power.

Wetlands are natural filtering systems, removing nutrients through effective wetland plants. They remove pollutants such as phosphorous, heavy metals and toxins which get trapped in the sediments. One of their key roles involves filtering Nitrogen in water and transforming it into harmless nitrogen gas. 

Image displaying wetland nitrogren removal.

Wetlands are often viewed as wasteland, and more than 64% of wetlands worldwide have disappeared since 1900. They are extremely important for the benefits and ecosystem services they provide. Wetlands are also valuable habitats for numerous species such as migratory birds, and are key in the conservation of these animals.

Tomorrow is World Wetlands Day, a great opportunity to share information and spread awareness about the importance of wetlands. This is especially important as few people realise just how vital they are in our every day life and how much we depend on their functions.

Wetlands International   -    RAMSAR   -   World Wetlands Day