Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands are important ecosystems that provide a broad variety of habitats within a small area including aquatic and terrestrial environments in which plants, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and water bugs live. Biodiversity (the variety of living things) is often very high in wetland ecosystems and are therefore very important environments to protect and enhance. Of particular importance is ensuring the adaptability of these vital ecosystems as we feel the impacts of climate change now and into the future.
Plants that live in the water also help clean the water that enters the wetland by taking up nutrients which they use for growth. So effective are wetlands at filtering water, artificial wetlands are used in some areas to help treat storm water in urban environments.
Wetlands also provide important breeding and nursery areas for native fish and frog species.
