Wetlands are often ignored and researchers fail to realise its high value economic and Environmental Services in avoiding the further degradation and losses. Infact of not being recognised its importance, these wetlands are found to bediminishing rapidly at alarming pace.Wetlands influence the global and local water cycles. Productive and healthy wetlands are responsible for drinking water, regulation of flood, irrigation of agriculture, also helping in enrichment of fisheries, supporting the biodiversity.The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity(TEEB) for Water and Wetlands reports that despite of the vital importance, wetlands continue to be degraded or lost, at the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for Biological Diversity.Intensive agricultural production, unsustainable water extraction for domestic and industrial use, urbanization, infrastructure development and pollution are the reasons for the lost of half of the wetlands in 20th century. It also highlighted the ways of improving and restoraing the wetlands by the wise use of water management.Researchers should contribute in filling the gaps in knowledge on the values of water and wetlands, on improved governance solutions, and on measures and tools to support the development of environmental accounts. Water availability and water security are the key areas that needs to be targetted.Wetlands provide climate regulation, climate mitigation and adaptation, and carbon storage – for example in peatlands, mangroves and Tidal Marshes. Wetlands can be important tourism and recreation sites and support local employment. Wetlands play a key role in the provision of food, and habitats and nurseries for fisheries. Wetlands are a key factor in the global water cycle and in regulating local water availability and quality.
Awake and let us eye on wetlands and ways to protect them.
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