wetlands
What is a wetland?
Wetlands can include ponds and lakes, rivers and streams, bogs, marshes and fens, flood meadows, estuaries etc. The international RAMSAR convention on wetland conservation (1971) defines wetlands as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 metres.
Why are wetlands important and What do they do for us?
For decades we have managed and controlled floods and water knowing that limitless clean water will always flow from the tap. Recent droughts, floods, and the threat of climate change, have shown us that water can run out and that we need to be more aware of the negative impacts we are having on water and wetlands.
Engineering and management in the right place can provide useful control of water and protection from flooding. Through the ages, man has used the power of water to drive engines, power water mills, create iron and farm fish. However, some of these highly managed hydrological systems are having severe impacts on those who modified them in the first place. Increasingly we are seeing people, business and housing affected by flash flooding, pollution, hormones in the water, shortages of drinking water, rising water bills due to high water treatment costs, and rocketing costs of maintaining the man made alterations to our rivers.
Rivers have floodplains for a reason. They can absorb huge amounts of floodwater away from towns, whilst also giving rivers a chance to release their sediment load and pollutants into wetlands which can help store and purify water. There is intrinsic value in wetland habitats, which be harnessed in order to provide humans and wildlife with essential environmental services such as fisheries, as well as beautiful landscapes in which to live.
These include:-
- Improvements to water quality, and the potential for reducing water treatment costs.
- Water resource benefits such as groundwater recharge and the conservation of existing resources
- Increased flood storage and reduced flood risk in key areas
- Increased public amenity
- The development of more sustainable methods of implementing European & National legislation
