Wetlands

Wetlands are found where dryland meets water. They include such areas as beaches, tidal flats, lagoons, mangrove swamps, estuaries, floodplains, marshes, fens and bogs. Until recently wetlands were seen as wastelands associated with disasters such as floods, and diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis. Therefore wetlands were drained for agricultural and health purposes, and dams and dikes constructed for flood protection, irrigation and hydropower production. During recent decades the importance of wetlands has been recognised. They support extensive agriculture, fisheries and wildlife, and perform a large number of functions for society such as flood attenuation, coastal protection, groundwater recharge, water purification, fuel production and recreation. Extensive alteration has resulted in considerable loss of these functions and has made wetlands one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Their conservation and sustainable use are now high on the international agenda. Wetland management must be based on a landscape-ecological analysis of the relations between abiotic and biotic systems within the wetland and their dependency on processes upstream and downstream within the catchment. As socio-economic reasons underlie wetland loss, a participative approach involving consultation and participation of local communities is essential for sustainable wetland development.