Wetlands are a productive and biological system that improves the water quality and controls erosion, maintains stream flows and provides water to all threatened species.
Wetlands are important because they:
- Improve water quality
- Provide wildlife habitat
- Maintain ecosystem productivity
- Reduce coastal storm damage
- Provide recreational opportunities
- Improve the water supply
- Provide opportunities for education
Why Are Wetlands Important?
Earlier wetlands were called the wastelands. Most people avoid these places due to wastes dumped there. And it was common to treat wetlands as dumping grounds. Research disclosed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1990 indicated an incredible fact: more than half of the 221 million acres of wetlands that occurred in the lower 48 states in the late 1700s have been eradicated
Today, we realize that wetlands deliver many important benefits to the habitat and the public. They deliver significant habitats for fish, waterfowl, and wildlife, also they clean water and help in the damage from floods and storms. Moreover, it delivers several opportunities such as fishing, photography, hunting, and observing wildlife. The importance of wetlands is increasing day by day. They are now seen as a valuable resource on earth.
###:1.Water Quality
Water has natural water filtering and purifying quality.
It absorbs many pollutants.
Therefore, in some systems wetlands also increase the quality of groundwater.
2.Reduction of Coastal Storm Damage:
Coastal wetlands enable the blunt force of heavy storms. For instance, mangrove forests in south Florida and salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts decrease flooding, coastal erosion, and property destruction during main storms.
3.Flood Control and Streamflow Maintenance:
Along with rivers and streams wetlands also absorb energy and store water when it rains. It reduces downstream, flood damages, and decreases the risk of floods. And the stored water can help to recover droughts.
4.Streambank Stabilization and Erosion Control:
Wetlands vegetation connects the soil to riparian wetlands, and also it avoids unnecessary erosion and sedimentary.
5.Wildlife Habitat:
Wetlands provide habitats for many species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals that are uniquely varied to marine habitats. Animals like deer, elk, and bears mainly use wetlands for food and shelter. They are also important for birds to migrate as well.
6.Fish and Shellfish Habitat:
Marine life including trout, bass, pike, sunfish, crabs, and shrimps, etc mostly relies on wetlands. They need food, cover, and nursery surfaces. And you know 60% to 90% of commercial fisheries rely on wetlands.
Summary
Wetlands are important because they provide water and protect the land from soil erosion. It helps the habitats and some wetlands supply clean water. Wetlands can make the environment clean and they can also help to control storms and floods. So wetlands also provide wildlife habitat and due to it some birds also migrate.
7.Habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species:
About one-third of all plants and animals recorded as endangered or threatened species in the United States rely on wetlands for their support, comprising whooping cranes, American crocodiles, the dwarf lake iris, and various orchid species.
8.Specialized Plant Habitat:
Nearly 7000 plant species inhabit U.S. wetlands, many of which can only occur in these wet climates.
9.Ecosystem Productivity:
Some wetland categories are among the extensively efficient ecosystems on earth. A stand of cordgrass in a salt marsh can generate more plant material and reserve more energy per acre than any agricultural crop despite cultivated sugarcane. Nutrients and plant material survive because some wetland systems during storms give vital food for plants, fish, and nature in estuaries and other downstream ecosystems.
10.Recreational Opportunities:
Many wetlands include a diversity of plants, animals, and water components that deliver beautiful places for fishing, hunting, boating, and photography.
11.Water Supply:
Some wetlands help deliver clean water supplies. For instance, wetlands in Florida’s Everglades benefit recharge the Biscayne Aquifer, the sole origins of drinking water for the Miami metropolitan region.
12.Education:
Ecological, cultural, and historic help run enough in our nation’s wetlands and deliver countless chances for environmental education and public knowledge strategies.
Conclusion
Wetlands are important because they deliver water and protect the land from soil erosion. It helps the habitats and some wetlands supply clean water. Wetlands can make the environment clean and they can also help to control storms and floods. So wetlands also provide wildlife habitat and due to it some birds also migrate.