CONCEPT OF WETLANDS

What are Wetland

Natural Resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by
humanity in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity
and geodiversity existent in various ecosystem. Natural resource is divided from environmental.
The examples of natural resource are air, wind, lake, river ,wetland, rock and minerals.
Wetlands are places where there is shallow water or very soggy soil at least part of the
time .Plants that grow their love having wet” feet”. The United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) or Wetlands Reserve Program, describes wetlands as “those areas that are
inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to
support, and that under normal circumstances do support , a prevalence of vegetation typically
adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes and
similar areas. Wetlands vary widely in their salinity levels, climatic zones, supported floor,
surrounding geography, whether they are coastal or inland
DEFINITION
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the
soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing
season. Water saturation (hydrology) largely determines how the soil develops and the types of
plant and animal communities living in and on the soil. Wetlands may support both aquatic and
terrestrial species. The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favour the growth
of specially adapted plants (hydrophytes) and promote the development of characteristic
wetland (hydric) soils.
Wetlands may support both aquatic and terrestrial species. The prolonged presence of water
creates condition that favour the growth of specially adapted plants and promote the
development of characteristic wetlands soil.
Wetlands may be natural or human-made. Human-made wetlands may be constructed for
water management purposes in urban areas. What is unique about all wetlands is that they
contain vegetation that is specially adapted to such wet conditions. Plants that live in wetlands
must be quite tolerant of wet, productive soils.
Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the
associated plant and animal life. They occur where the water table is at or near the surface of
the land, or where the land is covered by shallow water.”

IMPORTANCE
Wetlands prevent flooding by holding water much like a sponge. By doing so wetlands help
Keep River levels normal and filter and purify the surface water. Wetlands accept water during
storms and whenever water levels are high. When water levels are low, wetlands slowly release
water. Wetlands also release vegetative matter Ion Rivers, which helps feed fish in the rivers.
Wetlands help to counter balance the human effect on rivers by rejuvenating them and
surrounding ecosystems. Many animals that live in other habitats use wetlands for migration or
reproduction. For example, herons nest in large old trees, but need shallow areas in order to
wade for fish and aquatic life. Amphibians often forage in upland areas but return to the water
to mate and reproduce. Wetlands help control water flow and cleanse the system.

The Ramsar Convention

*What is the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands?