Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. Inland wetlands include marshes, ponds, lakes, rivers floodplains, and swamps. Coastal wetlands include saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons and even coral reefs. Fish ponds, rice paddies, and salt pans are human-made wetlands. Wetlands range in size from less than a single hectare to the Pantanal in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, which covers an area three times the size of Ireland. Wetlands are one of the most undervalued ecosystems but provide a range of vital services. They provide food, they filter water and offer a unique habitat for many different species. Few people realise the range of products derived from freshwater habitats like wetlands: food such as fish and rice; medicinal plants; peat for fuel and gardens; poles for building materials; and grasses and reeds for making mats and baskets and thatching houses.
RBM : Training Material
Key References - Wetlands
