Save wetlands save the future!
Benefits of Wetlands
For years, people have treated wetlands like wastelands. They’ve drained and filled them in for self styled development and dumped garbage in their waters.
Most of us know by now wetlands are no place for a landfill. But wetlands are still in danger.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change predicts climate change will soon transform coastal wetlands. Shifting rainfall and rising sea levels will change many into mangrove forests and salty mud flats within the century.
1. Wetlands protect us from storms.
Scientists have also linked climate changeto more extreme weather. Wetlands help the areas hit hardest survive.
Intact wetlands provide hurricanes and superstorms a buffer from further destruction.
As Care2‘s S.E. Smith notes, “Researchers believe that wetlands, especially in combination with barrier islands, beaches, and berms, trap angry waters before they surge inland and damage property, crops, and infrastructure. The bigger a wetland the more protection, as the energy of the storm has time to die out before the water reaches solid ground.”
2. Wetlands control erosion.
Climate change contributes to coastal erosion as well, which creates bigger waves and changes wind directions. Wetland vegetation stops ocean waves from wearing away at the shore.
The plants also keep the soil underneath them intact with a web of roots.
3. Fish live and reproduce there.
When it comes to biodiversity, the Environmental Protection Agency puts wetlands on the same level as rain forests and coral reefs. Hundreds of fish speciesuse their waters to grow, spawn, hide and find food.
4. Rare species do too.
Forty-three percent of endangered and threatened animals in the United States depend on wetlands.
Think creatures like the whooping crane, red wolf and bald eagle.
5. Wetlands filter out sediment and pollution.
Nature’s kidneys.
That’s what some like to call wetlands because they trap pollutants and sediment before they reach open water.
6. Wetlands control floods.
Even with less devastating natural disasters, wetlands often prevent flooding.
As the Department of Natural Resourcesnotes, “Wetlands can slow runoff water, minimizing the frequency streams and rivers reach catastrophic flood levels.”
7. Wetlands stimulate the economy.
Around the world, wetlands rake in an estimated $14.9 trillion for nearby communities.
They provide everything including tourism and commodities like cranberries and seafood.
8. They’re great to visit.
Like canoeing, fishing or hiking? Visit the wetlands.
NOAA has some good tips to help you save this essential habitat.
Source :Other
Courtesy : Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO
