Wetlands
Wetlands occupy six per cent of the world's land and freshwater surface area and are found on every continent in every corner of the globe. These highly productive natural ecosystems provide many ecological and economic benefits within our watersheds, and are a critical component of the global water cycle. Wetlands produce a rich diversity of aquatic plants and precious habitat for many different wildlife species.
Wetlands also provide many other benefits within a watershed or basin by collecting and holding run-off water and slowly releasing it over time. By retaining water, wetlands recharge groundwater supplies and reduce the impacts from storm events and overland flooding, and also act as critical filters that clean water flowing from agricultural and urban lands to water courses.
Vast areas of natural wetlands have been lost or substantially degraded due to dramatic landscape changes associated with human development. Urbanization, industrialization, agricultural settlement and poor management have resulted in the loss of valuable ecosystem services. In many locations, agricultural development has historically occurred at the expense of these important ecosystems. Real opportunities exist to improve the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems by restoring wetland functions.
While providing essential wildlife habitat, wetlands also provide an innovative natural solution to help prevent eutrophication or environmental damage to our freshwater sources by their natural ability as filters and sponges in the watershed or basin, a critical component of integrated water management. Understanding the enormous value that wetlands provide society can help protect and conserve them.
IISD's Water Innovation Centre researches wetland management for water quality, water quantity and the biofuels production potential, with a focus on the Canadian Prairie region.
Contents
- Agricultural Wetland Research Network
The Agricultural Wetland Research Network exists to share all available information, emerging research, and collaborative efforts related to the flow of nutrients and other contaminants, the socio-economic value of functional wetland ecosystem services and the role of watershed processes in maintaining the downstream water quality of freshwater lakes. -
Netley-Libau Marsh Management
Netley-Libau Marsh, a 250 km2 freshwater coastal wetland lies at the mouth of the Red River and the south end of Lake Winnipeg. The purpose of the Netley-Libau Marsh research project is to understand the importance of the marsh to the health of Lake Winnipeg, and how this large freshwater coastal wetland influences the quality of water flowing into the lake from the Red River.
