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What are Wetlands?

What are Wetlands?. A wetland is a place where the land is covered by water, either salt, fresh or somewhere in between: marshes and ponds, the edge of a lake or ocean, the delta at the mouth of a river, and low-lying areas that frequently flood. Marsh in shallow water on a lakeshore.

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What are Wetlands?

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  1. What are Wetlands? • A wetland is a place where the land is covered by water, either salt, fresh or somewhere in between: • marshes and ponds, • the edge of a lake or ocean, • the delta at the mouth of a river, and • low-lying areas that frequently flood

  2. Marsh in shallow water on a lakeshore Douglas A. Wilcox, Todd A. Thompson, Robert K. Booth, and J.R. Nicholas –USGS Document, Circular 1311, Lake-Level Variability and Water Availability in the Great Lakes

  3. Major wetland areas and worldwide distribution of salt marshes and mangrove swamps. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

  4. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil and they are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. • Wetlands perform many functions and are vital for environmental, economic, social and cultural reasons. WHY ARE WETLANDS IMPORTANT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT?

  5. Reduce the impacts from storm damage and flooding • Maintain good water quality in rivers • Wetlands store our water to ensure supply during dry periods • Help to stabilise climatic conditions • Control pests • Act as important sites for biodiversity • Release Vegetative Matter • Wetlands also provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits. • Wetlands are important for primary products such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry. • Many coastal and inland wetlands are popular for tourism and recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, camping and birdwatching. • Wetlands are important for science and education.

  6. A study in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environmentlooks at the impact that wetlands can have in mitigating man-made global warming. These areas are able to break down organic material very slowly and without oxygen, storing carbon rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. In coastal wetlands, carbon is taken up via photosynthesis, where it gets sequestered into woody biomass and soil (red dashed arrows) or respired (black arrows)

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