Wetlands is a place where the land is covered by water, usually in low-lying areas where the water stands still or lies low. The occurrence of water in the wetland is either permanently or seasonally. The water is either fresh, salty water or brackish. This biome occurs on every continent except for Antarctica.
Wetlands’ values and functions, either social, cultural or economic, to people rely on a compound set of relationships between the wetland and other ecosystems in the watershed.
This biome act like sponges by holding flood waters and keeping the rivers’ water levels normal, as well as benefiting the human population by water filtration to maintain a good water quality, protection from severe storm damages, flood and pest control, recreation and tourist activities. The water that flows through a wetland system. The plants found in the wetlands prevent the loss of water (water erosion). Wetlands are used to cultivate rice, which is an important nutrient to half of the world’s population.
What if cities have no wetlands? Would the communities be able to go on with their day to day living? The answer is in fact not optimistic. Cities would have to spend more money to treat water so that the communities can use (clean) water for their daily essentials, floods would devastate the communities closest to it, animals would be displayed or even die out, the supply of food would be disrupted, just to name a few.
Hard to think that such a wet piece of land has so many benefits. Respect them. Value them. And say thank you.
