Wetland conservation helps protect and preserve areas like marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens. These areas are covered by water some or all of the time because of natural and human-related dangers. Examples of these dangers include loss of habitat, pollution, and non-native plants and animals. Wetlands differ in salt levels, climate, and geography, and they are important for supporting many types of plants and animals, helping the environment, and benefiting people. Wetlands cover at least six percent of Earth’s surface and are a major focus for conservation because of the services they provide. More than three billion people, about half the world’s population, get their basic water needs from inland freshwater wetlands. These areas provide homes for fish and wildlife, help clean polluted water, and reduce the harm caused by floods and storms. They also offer activities like fishing, hunting, photography, and observing wildlife.
Wetland functions and value
Wetlands are important ecosystems that perform many necessary functions that help the environment and people.
Wetlands can help reduce the effects of flooding by storing extra water. According to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, many wetlands, especially those in floodplains, can hold floodwater temporarily during heavy rainfall. Wetlands are better compared to natural reservoirs than to sponges. They store water that flows over riverbanks or collects in low areas. As floodwaters recede, wetlands slowly release the stored water back into the soil. This process helps reduce the strength of flooding and erosion downstream. Wetlands also filter water by removing extra nutrients, slowing water flow to let particles settle, and allowing plants to absorb them. Their plants and soil trap sediments and pollutants, while tiny living things in the wetland break down harmful substances. These organisms can remove up to 90% of bacteria from water.
Wetlands are important for many plants and animals. Some species live in wetlands year-round, while others use them seasonally for food and shelter. Wetlands are essential for the survival of many species and provide temporary homes for others. Shallow water, rich nutrients, and high plant growth create conditions that support the base of the food chain, feeding fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects. Wetlands are also places where scientists study plants for medicine. About 70-80% of people worldwide use herbal medicine and depend on plants for income from harvesting and trading them. The White willow, a river plant, is used in skincare products and is the original source of salicylic acid. Many birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and safe places to live, especially during migration or when raising young.
Wetlands help reduce climate change by capturing carbon from the air and trapping sediment from water. This carbon is stored in plants, leaves, soil, and mud for thousands of years. According to an article by A.M. Nahlik and M.S. Fennesy, wetlands worldwide store about 700 billion tons of carbon, mostly in peat soils, and store about 96 million tons each year. In the United States, wetlands hold 11.52 billion tons of carbon, which is about 1% of the world’s soil carbon. This shows how much carbon wetlands store globally.
Although wetlands cover only about 5% of the land in the Conterminous United States, they support 31% of plant species. Wetlands absorb nutrients, making them very productive in growing plants. Freshwater wetlands are as productive as tropical rainforests in growing plant life. Their ability to grow biomass quickly may help develop alternative energy sources.
Wetlands also provide recreational activities, educational opportunities, and research environments. They attract people who enjoy outdoor activities like birdwatching, hiking, and photography. They also teach people about nature and conservation. Scientists study wetlands to learn about ecosystems and species, helping us understand the natural world better.
Threats to wetlands
According to UN Climate Change News, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. Wetlands face growing threats that harm their health. Urban development, pollution, land drainage, and climate change are endangering these important habitats that help control floods and provide homes for wildlife.
Globally, continued loss of habitat is expected to cause about 1,700 vertebrate species to go extinct by 2070. Coastal wetlands are especially at risk due to erosion, sinking land, rising sea levels, development, and drainage. "Approximately seven football fields of wetland area are lost every hour, and this loss has increased by 25% since a study six years ago." Direct effects of habitat loss on wetlands include the removal of plants, changes in water levels, and the building of structures. The decline of wetland habitats has major economic and social effects. The loss of these habitats has reduced fish populations in size and variety. This has decreased opportunities for both commercial fishing and recreational fishing, affecting the lives and activities of many people and communities. Wetland habitat loss also harms ecosystems because fish play an important role in the food chain. Their decline can change the numbers and behaviors of other species, affecting the entire wetland ecosystem.
Wetlands are harmed by pollution, which can damage their health and reduce their important functions. Pollution from sources like farm runoff, industrial waste, and city waste threatens wetland ecosystems, harming plants, animals, and the services wetlands provide. According to an article by NOAA Fisheries, high levels of pollution can overwhelm a wetland's ability to clean water, allowing too many nutrients and harmful chemicals to build up in waterways. This creates "dead zones" where water life cannot survive. Wetlands not only allow plastic waste to move through them but also collect plastic over time, causing long-term problems. Human activities, such as building roads and extracting resources, have disturbed wetland ecosystems. This has made previously drained wetlands more likely to catch fire, increasing the risk of air pollution from toxic metals stored in wetland peat. Once a drained wetland catches fire, "peatland fires are hard to stop because they can burn for weeks, months, or even years. They create large amounts of smoke and ash, filling the air with tiny particles."
Invasive species harm wetlands by outcompeting native plants and animals, disrupting the balance of these ecosystems. These invaders often grow quickly and change the structure and function of wetlands, reducing their ability to control floods and clean water. Invasive species also harm the availability of homes for native species and worsen wetland health. One example is the Nutria, a semi-aquatic rodent from South America. It was brought to the United States in 1889 for its fur but has since spread due to being released or escaping from farms. Because Nutria reproduce quickly and lack population control, they damage crops, reduce native plants by eating them, and increase flood damage through their burrows.
Climate change greatly affects wetlands, mainly through rising temperatures and changes in rainfall. These changes can shift wetland ecosystems, altering where plants and animals live. Higher temperatures can cause wetland loss and contribute to rising sea levels, which threaten coastal wetlands and lead to changes in rainfall and longer droughts, reducing water levels and drying wetlands. As temperatures rise, wetlands are more likely to experience frequent and severe wildfires. These fires can destroy wetland plants, reducing their ability to support wildlife and maintain their ecological roles.
A 2018 study published in Nature examined population trends of 461 waterbird species across 25,000 monitoring sites worldwide to understand the causes of population changes in wetland-dependent birds. The study found that the quality of national governance—measured by factors like political stability, rule of law, and effective institutions—was one of the strongest predictors of waterbird population trends. Areas with stronger governance, such as parts of Europe and North America, often had stable or growing waterbird populations. In contrast, areas with weaker governance, such as parts of Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South America, saw widespread declines. These findings show that protecting wetland biodiversity requires efforts beyond conservation, including improvements in political and governance systems.
Importance of wetland conservation
Restoring wetlands through conservation efforts is important for keeping their important functions. These ecosystems help control floods, clean water, and support many types of plants and animals. They are important for the health of nature and people. Wetland restoration tries to fix damaged wetlands by dealing with problems like how water is kept in the area, damage from activities like cutting trees, letting animals graze, using off-road vehicles, or changes in where water comes from. Restoration projects can include stopping harmful actions or bringing water back and restoring wetland features. By restoring wetlands, efforts can make them stronger, reduce the effects of climate change, and keep providing important ecosystem services.
Restoration efforts and projects
Many groups and projects are working to restore wetlands. They often team up with government agencies, local communities, and conservationists to fix damaged wetlands by following restoration plans. These efforts include actions such as bringing water back to wetlands, removing invasive plants, and planting native plants to help wetland ecosystems recover and protect their important roles in nature. This list is not complete.
In Louisiana's Barataria Basin, NOAA and its partners have started building one of the largest habitat restoration projects so far. The work covers 1,200 acres of marshland. The goal is to create new habitats, reduce erosion, and protect nearby communities.
The Eden Reforestation Project is a nonprofit group that works directly with local communities and both government and non-government organizations worldwide. It focuses on planting trees and restoring forests in many countries. Local workers are hired to help with these tasks. The project aims to stop deforestation, reduce poverty, and help fight climate change. Eden uses data to guide its work and adapts its methods based on new scientific information. It also uses customized monitoring techniques for each project to ensure success and consistency.
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is a large project approved by the U.S. Congress in 2000 to help save the wetlands in Florida's Everglades. Only about half of the wetlands in the Everglades remain. The plan's goal is to increase freshwater storage, improve water quality, and restore natural water flow. Of the 68 projects in the plan's strategy, 24 were completed by the end of 2021. Two more projects were finished that same year. In 2022, one project is expected to be completed, and nine other projects are currently under construction.
The Yellow River Wetland Conservation Project in China aims to protect and restore wetlands along the Yellow River, which flows through several provinces. These wetlands support many habitats and wildlife. The project includes activities such as restoring wetlands, protecting biodiversity, and using land in ways that are sustainable.
Dunube4all is an effort to restore water and ocean ecosystems in Europe. Its goal is to improve freshwater ecosystems in the Danube River Basin by 2030. The project uses a method that brings together different groups to address problems like broken river connections, loss of ecosystems, reduced biodiversity, and the need for new ways to connect people with nature.
The Burmese Python Management Project in Florida's Everglades National Park deals with the harm caused by invasive Burmese pythons. These non-native snakes have harmed wildlife populations, including raccoons, opossums, and marsh rabbits. The project uses drone technology, such as systems from Wildlife Drones, to track and monitor tagged pythons across large areas. This helps collect data and manage the python population to restore the Everglades ecosystem.