A wetland is an area of land that can be either permanent or seasonal. It encompasses vast saturated water that includes marshes, estuaries, salt marshes mudflats, mires, lakes, ponds, fens, swamps, deltas, coral reefs, billabongs, lagoons, shallow seas, lakes, coral reefs, bogs, fens, peatlands, and floodplains. There are also various cypress and hardwood swamps and mangroves controlling the environment and related plant and animal life.
Wetlands are a natural solution to climate change. These ecosystems harbor and maintain high biodiversity on Earth.
- ecosystem resilience
- clean water
- provide habitat for many species
- provide resilience to hazards such as flooding, storm surge, and rising sea-levels
- providing erosion control
- naturally filters water of harmful pollutants
- provide clean water, water supply, storm protection, and carbon storage
- mangroves and coral reefs shield coastlines for storm protection
- slow floodwaters during heavy rain
- absorb excess nutrients and sediments
- absorbs and stores water
- contributes to green space
- health and well-being
- tourism and jobs
- nature walks
- A unique breeding ground for vegetation to both wild and cultivated food sources
- 40% of all species live or breed in wetlands inc. fish and wildlife, snakes, birds, insects, and spiders
- recreation and sporting for fishing, canoeing, hiking, and bird-watching
- vegetation: emergents, floating or submerged plants
Start your discovery of how wetlands play a vital role for humanity and our planet.