IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS

1. As a biological diversity

MIRACLES
OF
WETLANDS

The wetland ecosystem provides food,

water and shelter for all kinds of
animals:

Invertebrates that live all or part

of their lives under water, such
as mosquitoes and dragonflies.

Amphibians, such as frogs, that

breed, feed and hide from the
hard winter weather in the
water.

Reptiles, such as water snakes,

that feed on the many other
animals that make wetlands
their home.

Muskrats
WHAT IS WETLANDS?

Brought to you by
WWW (Wetlands
Wonder Worker)
A COLLABORATION PROJECT WITH
WETLANDS MALAYSIA AND WWW

A place where the land is

covered by water, either salt,
fresh or somewhere in
between.
Example of wetlands :
Marshes and ponds, the edge
of a lake or ocean, the delta at
the mouth of a river, lowlying areas that frequently
flood

Mammals, such as muskrats,

that feed on wetland plants and
use them to build a home for
sheltering their young.
Wetlands provide habitat for
many types of plants. These
include familiar ones, such as
cattails and arrowroots, as well
as less-familiar plants, such as
carnivorous sundews.

2. For ecological reasons.

The wetlands are among the worlds
richest ecosystems. They provide man
with seafood, flowers, fruits and other
edibles.They also support the
cultivation of rice, a staple in the diet
of half the worlds population.

4. Storm Protection and Flood

Control
Wetlands help to minimize impacts
from flooding by providing an area for
water to move and slow down during
storm events. When big storms, like
hurricanes, sweep through an area,
coastal wetlands, barrier islands, and
coastal vegetation can help to buffer
the wind and waves, reducing their
power for destruction.
5. For Survival
The wetlands are a source of fresh
water. They must be conserved to meet
the needs of the population.
3. Water Purifications (cleansing)
The wetlands act as kidneys,
transforming water pollutants through
physical, chemical and biological
processes- an inexpensive method of
purification.
Protect water quality by trapping
sediments and retaining excess
nutrients and other pollutants such as
heavy metals.

6. For Economic Reasons

Wood from mangrove swamps
provides timber. The mangrove forest
is also a rich feeding ground and
nursery for many marine crustaceans
and fishes.