WHAT IS THE VALUE OF WETLANDS?

Question

GOEGRAPHY

Answer 1

Wetlands aka Swamps only have value if they are not festering with mosquitoes and other nasty creatures like water moccasins and alligators.  They have plants and fish life for the ducks and tule elk that may roam that particular area but when drained the ducks always find another place to live.

Answer 2

Wetlands help keep the very delicate balance if our ecosystem stable.  Wetlands provide living areas for plants and animals that must live in those kinds of environments.  When you unbalance the scales, it has an effect on everything.  Do not underestimate the importance of wetlands.

Answer 3

They are necessary to the survival of hundreds (if not thousands) of species of birds, insects, and mammals.  These animals are important to tourism and hunting in almost every state.

They provide a buffer between polluted run off and major waterways, that is the plants that live in wetlands remove pollutants (read excess fertilizers and sewage etc.) from water before it enters into rivers and streams and also slows the water allowing heavier sediments to settle out.  In a nutshell the wetlands help keep rivers clean.

They help prevent flooding.  The low, wet areas that are (or were once) wetlands allow spring runoff and heavy rain runoff a place to go and spread out without flooding larger areas or places where people live.

In coastal areas the wetlands are integral to the fishing industry because many creatures use the relative safety of the coastal swamps to lay eggs... thus the wetlands are a sort of nursery for many aquatic animals.

Hope this helps.... and while I agree with the previous posters that wetlands are often not the best places for humans to hang around in.... their are thousands of creatures that consider such places home sweet home...  

Answer 4

NOTHING