Bringing Back Our Wetlands

Bringing Back Our Wetlands — page 5 — swamps which have trees and other plants that grow in water with higher salinity than freshwater Nontidal wetlands are found inland They have freshwater and are not affected by tides In the United States 94 percent of all wetlands are nontidal They can be found along streams and rivers near ponds and lakeshores or even in isolated low lying areas There is a wide variety of inland wetlands including marshes swamps pocosins playas prairie potholes vernal pools bogs and fens LLANOS DE MOXOS WETLANDS The Llanos de Moxos wetland in Bolivia is one of the world's largest wetlands and it is also vital to the health of the Amazon Rainforest The wetland covers more than 17 million acres 6 9 million ha of tropical savannas that experience cycles of flood and drought The Moxos wetland includes 1 000 identified plant species 625 species of fish 102 reptiles 568 birds and 131 different species of mammals Some of these are threatened species such as the Bolivian river dolphin and the blue throated macaw In 2013 the Ramsar Convention identified the wetland as a Wetland of International Importance IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS All wetlands no matter their location or size support a wide variety of life They are often compared to rain forests and coral reefs as they provide habitats food sources and shelter for many species of birds fish mammals reptiles amphibians insects microorganisms and plants More specifically wetlands can provide food and shelter for mammals such as bears raccoons beavers deer moose and elk They provide refuge for migratory birds such as

Bringing Back Our Wetlands — page 6 — sandhill cranes ducks and mallards that winter in the marshes of the southern United States As in coral reefs many of the species found in wetlands are endangered or threatened In fact one third of endangered or threatened plants and animals in the United States depend on wetlands That includes American crocodiles whooping cranes and several species of orchids Because endangered animals often live in wetlands some wetlands have become critical habitats This means they are necessary to the survival of an endangered species Vernal pools are low areas of land that have shallow water during winter and spring Wetlands not only provide critical habitat for plants and animals but also filter and clean water When water moves into a wetland it often carries sediment and pollutants The wetland acts as a natural filter improving water quality by filtering out sediments and absorbing many pollutants before the water moves downstream or seeps into the ground Wetlands also store water They act like sponges collecting and holding on to water Much of the water seeps into the ground to recharge groundwater supplies In the Everglades in Florida for example the wetlands

Bringing Back Our Wetlands — page 7 — recharge the Biscayne Aquifer which provides drinking water for the Miami metropolitan area This storage of water is important during dry periods and times of drought MOSQUITO CONTROL Swamps and other areas that hold standing water are frequently thought to be infested with mosquitoes However in healthy wetlands that is not the case To the contrary the species that live in the wetlands serve as a type of mosquito control Wetland species including fish amphibians insects birds and bats are all natural predators of mosquitoes In healthy wetland ecosystems they help keep mosquito numbers down When wetlands are filled in poisoned or used as dumps many species cannot survive but mosquitoes can Mosquito larvae thrive in unhealthy wetlands because they don't have any natural predators controlling their numbers Wetland plants slow down water moving through streams and rivers too which reduces erosion They also lessen flood damage and lower the risk of flash floods Coastal wetlands likewise serve as buffers absorbing much of the impact of rushing water from storms Mangrove swamps and salt marshes reduce erosion on the coasts and minimize property damage for those living there Another important function of wetlands is that they act as carbon sinks At a time in human history when a high level of carbon dioxide is entering the atmosphere this function of wetlands is extremely important Similarly to forests wetlands pull carbon dioxide from the air and store it thus playing a crucial role in the overall health of the environment A typical acre 0 4 ha of wetland can hold more than 1 million gallons Wetlands have great economic value as well 3 8 million L of water Many people make their living fishing and trapping in wetlands Of all commercial fisheries in the United

Bringing Back Our Wetlands — page 8 — States more than 75 percent depend on wetlands for fish crab and other catches The economic benefits of wetlands also extend to improved drinking water quality pollution control and flood mitigation Finally wetlands are also a source of recreation in the form of hiking photography birding hunting boating and more Billions of dollars are spent annually on these activities bringing revenue to communities and creating jobs for those who live there Yet the value of wetlands both economically and ecologically is something humans have been slow to acknowledge Historically wetlands have been destroyed or degraded to make way for other human pursuits as was the case at Story Mill Yet as humans have come to understand wetlands value efforts to increase conservation have led to the preservation restoration and protection of the world's wetland ecosystems DUCKS UNLIMITED One organization that has understood the value of wetlands for decades is the nonprofit organization Ducks Unlimited Starting in the 1930s duck hunters saw the duck populations plummet as a result of severe drought The hunters feared that duck populations would never recover Instead of sitting idly by a group of sportsmen came together to form Ducks Unlimited The organization had a single mission to preserve habitats for waterfowl Since its inception in 1937 the organization has become a world leader in wetland conservation dedicated to restoring conserving and managing these habitats through public policy education and fund raising using both public and private partnerships As of 2017 the organization had conserved more than 13 million acres 5 3 million ha of wetlands

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