Wetlands provide many societal benefits: food and habitat for fish and wildlife , including threatened and endangered species; water quality improvement; flood storage; shoreline erosion control; economically beneficial natural products for human use; and opportunities for recreation, education, and research (Figure 28) ...
What are the 3 types of wetland impacts?
Common direct impacts to wetlands include filling, grading, removal of vegetation, building construction and changes in water levels and drainage patterns . Most disturbances that result in direct impacts to wetlands are controlled by State and Federal wetland regulatory programs.
What are 3 functions of wetlands?
Wetlands provide many societal benefits: food and habitat for fish and wildlife , including threatened and endangered species; water quality improvement; flood storage; shoreline erosion control; economically beneficial natural products for human use; and opportunities for recreation, education, and research (Figure 28) ...
What are 3 economic benefits of a wetland?
The economic benefits to wetlands are numerous as well. Improved water quality, flood control, wildlife and fisheries habitat, and recreational opportunities are just a few economic benefits that wetlands provide.
What are the importance of wetlands?
Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality . They provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that are found nowhere else.
What are 10 benefits of wetlands?
- Flood control.
- Groundwater replenishment.
- Shoreline stabilization & storm protection.
- Sediment & nutrient retention and export.
- Water purification.
- Reservoirs of biodiversity.
- Wetland products.
- Cultural values.
What are wetlands worth?
Wetlands are considered valuable because they clean the water, recharge water supplies, reduce flood risks, and provide fish and wildlife habitat. In addition, wetlands provide recreational opportunities, aesthetic benefits, sites for research and education, and commercial fishery benefits.
Are wetlands in danger?
Threats to wetlands. Sadly, wetlands are threatened by many human activities . ... According to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Wetlands, more than one third of the United States’ threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands and nearly half use wetlands at some point in their lives.
What are the negative effects of wetlands?
The Problem
Wetlands destruction has increased flood and drought damage, nutrient runoff and water pollution, and shoreline erosion , and triggered a decline in wildlife populations.
What activities can destroy a wetland?
- loss of vegetation.
- introduction of invasive plants and animals.
- salinity and inundation.
- pollution.
- artificial processes. artificial drainage. extraction of groundwater. construction of dams and weirs.
- natural processes.
How do wetlands make money?
Incentives and Benefits
Landowners may also earn money by leasing their wetlands to hunters . ... By storing water, wetlands recharge local groundwater supplies. And by cycling nutrients through the ecosystem, wetlands encourage plant growth.
How do wetlands benefit the economy?
Wetlands contribute to the national and local economies by producing resources, enabling recreational activities and providing other benefits, such as pollution control and flood protection.
What happens if wetlands are destroyed?
The loss or destruction of wetlands can result in: ... Increased occurrence of algae blooms caused by nutrient overload from land adjacent to a wetland . Increased sedimentation , which negatively impacts natural filtration. Loss of flood plain land and flood plain protection.
What are 5 benefits of wetlands?
- Improved Water Quality. Wetlands can intercept runoff from surfaces prior to reaching open water and remove pollutants through physical, chemical, and biological processes. ...
- Erosion Control. ...
- Flood Abatement. ...
- Habitat Enhancement. ...
- Water Supply. ...
- Recreation. ...
- Partnerships. ...
- Education.
What are the two most important uses of wetlands?
We fill in wetlands to build houses and businesses . We drain wetlands for agriculture. We cut down trees for timber and charcoal. We use too much fertilizer and pesticides on our farms and gardens.
How are wetlands used by humans?
Wetlands provide habitats for an incredibly wide variety of plants and animals. They also are important because they absorb heavy rainfalls and prevent flooding. In addition, wetlands protect the ground water humans depend on for drinking by capturing and neutralizing surface pollutants .
