A Look at the Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands are a crucial part of Illinois' as well as the nation's ecology. Wetlands are home to innumerable types of plant and animal life. Also, wetlands are a source of food for countless birds, fish, and mammals. Wetlands also serve to regulate the climate and soil cycles. Why are wetlands so crucial to the ecosystem? Why should people make an effort to preserve these lands and keep them from being developed for other purposes?

First we must look at what a wetland actually is. In the simplest terms, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a wetland as "areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season." Not surprisingly this broad definition means that wetlands of many descriptions can be found almost anywhere on the planet. Despite the many variations, according to the EPA, wetlands are broken down into two main types: Coastal and Inland. Coastal wetlands are found just where you'd expect: along the coastlines. As such, they are mixed with salt water. Inland wetlands are found near lakes, rivers and streams and are fresh water. Marshes, bogs, swamps and fens are also examples of inland wetlands.

Going back to our question of the importance of wetlands, we should take a look at the big picture and look at the role wetlands play on a global scale. Wetlands make up approximately 5% of the world's land. At a global ecosystem level, there is not a great deal of knowledge about the role that wetlands play. It has been hypothesized that wetlands are extremely important in the capture, processing and release of Carbon Dioxide. Since Carbon Dioxide is known to be a contributing factor to global warming, it is speculated that wetlands are a major regulator of climate change at the global level.

Where the importance of the wetlands really becomes apparent is at the local level. At the local level, there are a myriad of uses and purposes of the wetlands. Wetlands provide protection against flooding and erosion and act as a natural water filtration plant. The wetlands also provide an enormous bounty of foodstuffs. Berries, rice, fish, and shellfish can all be harvested from a wetland. Wetlands are also a good source of timber. There is also a great industry in trapping fur bearing animals like mink and beavers and selling their pelts. Hunters can hunt a wide variety of waterfowl that visit these wetlands. There is also the aesthetic value of simply observing the wetlands and the abundant life to be found.

The main problem facing wetlands is people. Expansion and development are taking away wetlands and turning them into golf courses and condos. Also, natural resources are being removed faster than they can be regenerated. Taking too much timber, plant, fish and the like throws of the balance of the wetlands' ecosystem. Groups like Ducks Unlimited are active in working to preserve wetlands by raising awareness of the wetlands and the accompanying wildlife. If reduction of the wetlands continues unchecked, the planet could eventually lose an invaluable resource.

Bibliography

Mitsch, William J., and James G. Gosselink Wetlands. Canada: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.

Fowler, Allan. Life in a Wetland. USA: Grollier Publishing Company, 1998.

Mitsch, William J., and James G. Gosselink. "The Values of Wetlands: Landscapes and Institutional Perspectives." Ecological Economics. http://swamp.osu.edu/aEcological%20Economics.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Wetlands." http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/