Why Are Wetlands Important?

Wetlands provide a unique habitat and breeding grounds for many species, including rare and threatened ones, from tiny flies and algae to large mammals and trees, which encourages biodiversity in the landscape. Every plant and animal and the relationships therein plays a role in the health of these resource areas.

There are various types of wetlands, including marshes, bogs, and swamps, and not all of them appear wet at the surface, but all serve similar, important functions including water filtration, carbon sequestration, and flood control.

Humans rely on many natural resources, and wetlands play a large role in supporting the natural landscape, as such even minor disturbances to these fragile ecosystems can have adverse impact on a much larger scale.