Well this is interesting, especially considering that I am studying for an exam in my wetlands class for Monday! Some of the 'Key Messages' in Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Wetlands and Water touch on the vastness and the importance of wetlands. Reading about how much wetlands are in danger of degradation is quite disturbing. Even more so when one realizes how few of the original wetlands are still here. I'm from Ohio and the literature states that Ohio has lost 90% of what was originally there pre- european settlement. Wetlands are targeted for their incomparably fertile soils and their resources such as peat. To me the the loss of wetlands is similar to the loss in oil. People find an irreplaceable resource and go at it like a starved dog.
North America is doing a very good job with wetland restoration. I just visited the restored wetland on campus this Friday! There are many laws now in place for the protection of these habitats. The trick now is to get the general public to see them as necessary and valuable ecosystems. Unfortunately, terms like 'bog' and 'swamp' have negative connotations - BUT THEY SHOULDN'T! In this case, more education is definitely needed, keep the laws coming but, people need to be reconnected to lots of different forms of ecosystems.
I really hope to be able to read this whole report, but since it is 80 pages and there are too many exams in the next few days, it'll have to wait. In the mean time, I'm curious for the discussion on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment