By Leslie Lee
Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) joins the United Nations in celebrating World Wetlands Day!
Wetlands are transitional areas between permanently-flooded, deep water environments and well-drained uplands. The water table in these areas is usually at or near the surface, or the land is covered by shallow water. Wetlands encompass diverse ecosystems, including mangroves, marshes, forested wetlands, bogs, wet prairies, and vernal pools.
So why are wetlands beneficial?
1. Wetlands play a crucial role in purifying water. They also function as natural sponges, trapping and slowly releasing surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater, and floodwaters.
2. Wetlands act as natural buffers, safeguarding 60% of humans settled along coastlines against storm surges- mitigating the devastating impacts of hurricanes and tsunamis and reducing the damage to structures and homes.
3. Wetlands are among the most productive and biodiverse habitats on Earth, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. They are host to a variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals.
4. Wetlands support a diverse range of habitats, provide shelter and nursery areas for important animals such as fish and shellfish, and also provide wintering grounds for migrating birds. Wetlands are vital for the survival of numerous endangered aquatic plants and animal species.
5. Wetlands also store carbon within their plant communities and soil instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, helping to moderate global climate change.
6. Globally, a staggering 1 in 8 people- which is over 1 billion individuals- rely on wetlands for their livelihoods. These ecosystems provide essential food sources, water supplies, facilitate transportation, and offer recreational opportunities.
Despite their immense importance, wetlands are facing alarming threats. They are disappearing at a rate three times faster than forests due to rapid population growth, unsustainable development, pollution, overfishing, and the impacts of climate change.
It is imperative that we recognize wetlands as beneficial ecosystems and take action to protect and preserve these precious resources for future generations. Valuing their role in our region is becoming increasingly important. DLC is proud to hold conservation easements that contain intact wetlands on multiple private and public properties, offering immense conservation value to our human and non-human communities.
Sources: USGS.gov, EPA.gov
Photo: Jody Walker