Wetlands function as natural sponges that trap and slowly release surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater and flood waters. ... The holding capacity of wetlands helps control floods and prevents water logging of crops .
What are 3 reasons wetlands are important?
Wetlands provide habitat for thousands of species of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. Wetlands are valuable for flood protection, water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control, natural products, recreation, and aesthetics .
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 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.
Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands play a critical role in maintaining many natural cycles and supporting a wide range of biodiversity. They purify and replenish our water , and provide the fish and rice that feed billions. They serve as a natural sponge against flooding and drought, protect our coastlines and help fight climate change.
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.
Which is the largest benefit of wetlands?
Wetlands perform many essential ecosystem services— carbon storage , flood control, maintenance of biodiversity, fish production, and aquifer recharge, among others—services that have increasingly important global consequences.
How are humans destroying wetlands?
Human activities cause wetland degradation and loss by changing water quality, quantity, and flow rates ; increasing pollutant inputs; and changing species composition as a result of disturbance and the introduction of nonnative species.
What can we do to save wetlands?
- discovering locally protected wetlands with friends and family.
- participating in environmental stewardship initiatives in your area, such as tree and shrub planting and litter clean-ups.
- supporting wetland-conservation initiatives by donating time or money, if you can.
Do wetlands filter water?
Wetlands can improve water quality by removing pollutants from surface waters. Three pollutant removal processes provided by wetlands are particularly important: sediment trapping, nutrient removal and chemical detoxification. ... The roots of wetland plants can then bind the accumulated sediments.
What does wetlands provide for humans?
Not only do wetland ecosystems support a host of animal and plant life – but they are critically important for the survival humans too, from the mitigation of Climate Change to the protection of human settlements from floods . If we protect wetlands, we also protect our planet and ourselves.
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 would happen if wetlands dried out?
Biodiversity usually decreases when a wetland dries up, as a wetland supports the growth of plants and thus the populations of animals that act as...
What should we learn from wetlands?
Wetlands are vital for human survival . ... Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.
Where are wetlands found?
Wetlands exist in many kinds of climates, on every continent except Antarctica. They vary in size from isolated prairie potholes to huge salt marshes. They are found along coasts and inland . Some wetlands are flooded woodlands, full of trees.
How do wetlands reduce pollution?
Because of their sponge-like ability to absorb water, wetlands can slow the momentum of flood waters or of a coastal storm surge . Wetlands’ highly developed root systems hold the soil in place and filter pollutants, naturally improving water quality (including water that is eventually used for drinking).
