Why Are Wetlands Important to Protect?

Wetlands are just as important to the environment as rainforests and coral reefs, yet they don’t get nearly enough attention. They are habitats of rich biodiversity and have an important role in the lives of humans and animals.

A wetland is an area of land either covered by water or saturated with water. The water is often groundwater, seeping up from an aquifer or spring. A wetland’s water can also come from a nearby river, lake, or seawater can create wetlands, especially in coastal areas that experience strong tides.

Here are a few reasons wetlands are important to protect.

Water Purification

Wetland ecosystems serve as large, living water filters. Natural sediment and minerals will settle in the standing water, but most filtration properties come from plants and microorganisms that absorb chemical runoff from agriculture and industry. There are also floating plants like Water Hyacinth and Duckweed, which can absorb heavy metals such as iron and copper.

This natural water purification system protects other ecosystems downstream by preventing algal blooms caused by agricultural fertilizers or poisonous metals from building up in the water and the food chain, affecting fish, marine mammals, and humans.

Protection From Extreme Weather

Wetlands are natural defenses against disasters. Swamps form a barrier to flooding from the coast as they intercept high tides and distribute the force of incoming water over flood plains. Coral reefs and mangroves can reduce the speed and height of waves from tsunami-like storms as they approach, reducing the impact and damage on coastal towns.

Flood Control

Wetlands absorb rainwater runoff and spring snowmelts, slowing the water flow and preventing sudden floods downstream. Over time, the slow release of this stored water can help keep streams flowing during drought. When wetlands are drained and used for development, this protection is lost, allowing water to travel faster down narrow channels, and increasing the chances of major flooding.

Wildlife Habitat

Wetlands provide a habitat for many amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals adapted to aquatic environments. Upland wildlife like deer, elk, and bears commonly use wetlands for food and shelter. Wetlands are vital to many migratory bird species like wood ducks, mallards, and sandhill cranes, who spend their winters in flooded bottomland forests and marshes in the southern U.S.

Getting educated and understanding wetlands’ importance in our world is the first step to change. There are several things people can do to help preserve wetlands, including those in the construction industry.

While doing construction work near wetlands, it is important to protect the ground you are working on to prevent unnecessary damage. At Ritter Forest Products, our hardwood timber ground mats are designed to make industrial work in environmentally sensitive areas easier. With our mats, you’ll be able to create sturdy temporary roads protecting the ground you’re working on, doing your part in keeping the world’s important wetlands safe.