The Importance of Wetland Delineation in Environmental Conservation
Delineation of wetlands: The term “wetland” was first used in the United States in 1956, and since 1971, the February 2 Iran Ramsar conference has been designated World Wetlands Day. A location or area with seasonal, ongoing, or damp soil is called a wetland. The most productive ecosystems on Earth are wetlands. The role of wetlands in the ecosystem is similar to that of the human kidney. In nature, wetlands also play an important role in water filtration, just like the kidneys. Garbage from the natural environment is washed away by runoff during rains and accumulates in wetlands. Wetlands are rich in nutrients. Aquatic plants absorb nutrients from the soil, and excess water is removed from the wetland. So wetlands are nature’s kidneys. Wetlands can be found on almost every continent except Antarctica, such as marshes, estuaries, coral deltas, lagoons, fens, swamps, etc.
Wetlands Defined: An In-Depth Look at Wetland Delineation
Wetlands are water bodies located at the boundary between lower land, and the diversity of ecosystems is so great that different definitions of wetlands have been given at different times.
- Wetlands were defined at the ‘Ramsar Conference’ held on February 2, 1971, in the city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Iran.“Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.”
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (1979), “Wetland and land transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water level is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water”
- According to Denny (1995), “wetlands are shallow, seasonally or permanently flooded areas that normally support hydrophytic vegetation.”
- L. Smith (1980) said about wetlands that, “Wetlands are a halfway world between a terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem.”
Generally speaking, a wetland is a specific type of confined or flowing water body or permanent or temporary ecosystem of high productive capacity, where the soil is completely flooded by water.
Types of Wetlands and the Importance of Wetland Delineation
Wetlands mainly have three types: i) Marine or coastal wetlands ii) Inland wetlands iii) Man-made artificial wetlands
Types of natural wetlands
i) marine wetlands ii) wetlands adjacent to estuaries iii) inland wetlands iv) coastal wetlands v) riparian wetlands vii) freshwater wetlands vii) saltwater wetlands viii) wetlands in hilly areas
Types of wetlands are based on their economic utility
i) derelict: it is a submerged wetland ii) semi-derelict: endangered wetland iii) Culturable, means economically productive wetlands
A wetland is a deep, shallow body of natural or artificially created, closed-flow freshwater or brackish water that retains water for some or all of the year and is rich in biodiversity to a depth of approximately six meters.
Wetland locations can be observed in most countries, such as India-Bangladesh, the USA, Scotland, and Iran.
The wetlands are home to numerous endemic amphibians, aquatic reptiles, birds, microconsumers, and various plant species.
Several important wetlands can be observed, which can be both natural and socio-economic. First, they play an important role in groundwater supply, protection of biodiversity, control of climate change, protection from storm surges, and flood control.
Wetlands are habitats of biodiversity where many animals live, collect their biological needs and food, and form complex food webs as they feed on each other. Various organisms break down complex organic compounds into simpler compounds and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.
Factory flat houses are being built there to fill the wetlands for the extra consumption of people’s daily lives. Moreover, waste disposal is slowly silting up the wetlands and reducing their water-holding capacity.
To protect wetlands, people should be properly educated about wetlands and aware of their benefits, and government and private initiatives should focus on maintaining the health of wetlands.
Restoration of wetlands degraded by natural or human activities, by local people and public or private assistance, to restore wetlands and maintain native species.
Wetlands are important in controlling the rate of global warming because wetlands and wetland plants absorb carbon dioxide and reduce some of the effects of greenhouse gases on nature, and wetlands play a special role in regulating humidity and temperature.
Here is a comprehensive list of world wetlands altered by pollution. Human interference, industrialisation, and urbanization affect these wetlands. Changes occur, are in progress, or will emerge in the future.
Thank you for being so interested in wetlands. We refresh our website on wetlands in stages. Keep an eye on our pages.
Wetland delineation methods include soil sampling, vegetation analysis, and hydrology tests. Modern techniques include remote sensing and GIS.
Wetland delineation is critical. It protects biodiversity and ecosystems. It increases groundwater, combats climate change, and shields coasts from storm surges.
Yes, wetland delineation can affect land development. It identifies protected areas that need special management to prevent environmental damage.
Yes, satellite imagery, drones, and GIS tech have improved wetland mapping. They are more accurate and efficient now.
