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By Aayushi Sharma,
On February 2, World Wetlands Day is observed to underscore the importance of wetlands in supporting ecosystems and human wellbeing. The 2024 theme, ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,’ emphasizes the crucial role wetlands play in fostering sustainable development and highlights the interconnectedness between wetlands and our overall health and prosperity.
This world wetlands day, CFC India had an interaction with guest expert Amy Schmid, the Global Blue Carbon Project Lead at Conservation International.
During the session Schmid said, “wetlands are extremely important for climate change mitigation and adaptation because tidal wetlands in particular store a very large amount of carbon compared to other ecosystems. In comparison to tropical forests, mangrove stores over four times the amount of carbon on average.”
Role of wetlands in Climate Change mitigation
Wetland ecosystems are crucial for mitigating climate change risks. These dynamic ecosystems undergo wet and dry cycles across seasonal, annual, and decadal intervals. Due to their inherent natural variability, numerous wetlands have the potential to endure and maintain their essential ecosystem services even in the face of climate change.
Amy Schmid told that wetland ecosystems are converted into other types of land use like for aquaculture, agriculture or development, all of the stored carbon is released back to the environment contributing to global warming.
“Controlling the loss of wetland ecosystems is extremely important to combat climate change. Also, wetland ecosystems are good and sequestering carbon when they are restored so they can also be a part of the climate change mitigation hussle.”, added Amy.
Wetlands: A home to wide variety of flora and fauna
Diverse types of plants and animals can be found in wetlands, particularly in marshes and swamps. In tidal wetlands, certain animals like prawns reside. In order to spawn, a variety of marine fish, including striped bass, penetrate coastal wetlands.
To lay their eggs, bass swim from the ocean into salt marshes. The juvenile bass find plenty of food and some shelter in the grasses or tree roots after their eggs hatch. Large reefs in salt marshes are home to oysters. Fisheries with significant economic value can be found in all of these wetlands.
Wetlands and Migratory birds
Migratory birds, wetlands, and humans form an intricate and interdependent ecosystem. Wetlands serve as vital environments for migratory birds, offering essential sustenance, respite, and refuge as these birds embark on their extensive journeys.
Hundreds of millions of migratory birds depend on an extensive network of thousands of wetlands to nourish and take breaks along their global migration routes. Despite significant knowledge, many wetlands still hold undiscovered ecological treasures, with around 200 new species found in freshwater wetlands annually. Regrettably, wetlands are encountering escalating threats, disappearing at a rate three times faster than forests. In the last 50 years alone, a third of wetlands have been lost due to damming, diking, and drainage.
How do local economies benefit from conserving wetland ecosystems?
Wetlands contribute significantly to local economies by providing various ecosystem services. Wetlands support fisheries, agriculture, and tourism, contributing to employment opportunities and income generation. They act as natural water purifiers, reducing treatment costs for drinking water. Wetlands also offer flood control, minimizing damages and associated recovery expenses.
Additionally, the preservation of wetlands enhances the resilience of local ecosystems, promoting long-term sustainability and fostering a healthier environment, which ultimately supports economic activities.
“Wetlands do contribute to some of the local economies in a way they are home to huge diversity of fisheries, flora and fauna also they serve adaptation benefits when acts as a buffer.”, said Amy Schmid.
References:
https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/stories/launch-mexico-national-chapter
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wetland/
https://www.fao.org/events/detail/world-wetlands-day—2-february/en
Image Source:
Photo by Frank Cone https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-bird-on-ground-near-water-3124842/
Photo by Kelly https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-reptile-3311093/
Photo by Tina Nord https://www.pexels.com/photo/sandhill-crane-birds-standing-on-brown-grass-field-7255533/
Photo by Ariful Haque https://www.pexels.com/photo/men-riding-boat-on-body-of-water-3675856/
