Functions & values of wetlands

It is as great as contributing to wetlands and the environment, but they have limitations. Partially filled or otherwise damaged wetlands can only partially fill the possibility of flood protection, coastline stabilization or groundwater recharge

Degraded wetlands may lose the ability to remove excess sediment, nutrients and other contaminants. It may also lose value in fish and wildlife habitats. Wetlands may have huge capacity to provide environmental benefits, but they are not immortal. If people want wetlands to keep performing their ecological functions, everyone needs to play their role in protecting them.

The following summarizes how the wetlands fulfill their complex functions and how these functions support a brief explanation of humans and other species.

Washington State wetlands Chapter 2, Volume 1: "Science synthesis" explains Washington wetland information and its mechanism. Section 3 of Wetland Functions, Introduction and Background explains the progress of understanding wetland function in the past decades. It defines the term wetland function and explains the difference between wetland function and value.

The wetland assessment system in Washington State is designed to distinguish wetlands in the western and eastern parts of Washington State. Evaluation systems classify wetlands into four categories based on sensitivity to sensitivity, rarity, ability to replace them, and the capabilities they provide.

The wetland function evaluation method of Washington State is a series of evaluations that provide scores to the extent that wetlands perform up to 15 functions. However, these methods are not currently used. Instead, these documents are only historical reference materials on the scientific grounds of the wetland rating system, and are currently used to gather general information on wetland functions.

Wetland assessment methods that assign values ​​to wetland functions have been developed or under development. Several methods determine the value based on the benefits of the wetlands themselves by considering the following questions: How important is this function in maintaining this particular wetland? Other methods assign value based on the surrounding ecosystem or the benefit to humans. The types of questions considered in this way are as follows. How important is this function for downstream environmental quality? How does this function help society? In the latter evaluation method, the value of a wetland can be compared with the value of another wetland.

It is not an easy task to develop a single way to evaluate wetland functions or assign values ​​to wetland functions. In fact, there is not always one way to fulfill all the needs. However, evaluating each function of wetlands and assigning values ​​to each function is a step to protect sensitive wetlands. In addition, providing a basic evaluation system for wetland comparison will determine the success (or failure) of programs and policies designed to mitigate unavoidable wetland losses and protect or manage wetland resources Trend of wetland resources