What are wetlands?
Wetlands defined “are lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor
determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal
communities living in the soil and on its surface.” Wetlands can be found in
all types of biomes, but vary due to regional and local differences in soils,
vegetation, climate, human disturbance and other factors. Wetlands are one part
of the foundation our nations water resources and are one of the most vital
contributions to the health of waterways and communities that are downstream. 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. There are both tidal wetlands and
non-tidal wetlands. Tidal wetlands in the United States are found along the
Atlantic, Pacific, Alaskan and Gulf coasts. They are close to where the sea
water mixes with fresh water to form an environment of varying salinity. Many
sallow coastal areas are vegetated mud flats or sand flats. This is a difficult
environment for most plants to grow. However, some plants such as grass like
plants have been able to successfully adapt to this environment. Non-tidal
wetlands are most common in floodplains along rivers and streams. Inland wetlands
include marshes and wet meadows dominated by herbaceous plants, swamps
dominated by shrubs, and wooded swaps dominated by trees.
Why are wetlands so
important? Wetlands are important for a multitude of reasons. One reason
being is that they play a large role in our ecosystems. Wetlands can prevent
flooding by holding/ absorbing water much like a sponge. By wetlands being able
to do this is helps keep river levels normal and not only filter but also
purify the surface water. Wetlands also release vegetative matter into rivers,
which helps feed the organisms living in the water. Furthermore, wetlands help
to counter balance the human effect on rivers by rejuvenating them and the
surrounding ecosystems. Another reason why wetlands are important is that they
provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits. They are important
for primary products such as pastures, timber, fish and they support recreational
and tourist activities. Wetlands support agricultural activities by providing a
source of water for irrigation and livestock for domestic consumption. Recreational
activities that inland wetlands are popular for are swimming, boating, fishing
and camping to name a few. They also help reduce the impacts of storm damage,
they maintain good water quality in rivers, recharge ground water, store
carbon, help stabilize climatic conditions and control pests. Wetlands are also
homes to many plants and animals, wetlands provide essential habitat for rare
or important species.
What is the Ramsar
Convention? “The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is
an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and
international cooperation for the conversation and wise use of wetlands and
their resources.” Ramsar is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental
agreements. The treaty was negotiated through the 1960s by the countries and
non-governmental organizations concerned about the increasing loss of
degradation of wetland habitat for migratory water birds. Their mission is the
conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions
and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable
development throughout the world. In 2015 a list came out of 37 designated
wetlands of international importance in the United States. One of the sites on the list is the Olentangy
River Wetland Research Park located near Ohio State University. The Research
Park is a large scale aquatic research facility.
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