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The other part is that wetlands are absolutely critical for maintaining sustainable water supplies for humanity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wetlands naturally filter water<\/a> by trapping sediment, absorbing excess nutrients, breaking down contaminants, and removing toxins. They help provide people with clean drinking water, reduce disease, support agriculture, and prevent flooding, benefiting both people and ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And why do they need protecting? Although wetlands are some of the most vital ecosystems on our planet, they remain among the most threatened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re reading this from a place where wetlands shape your local landscape or from a region far removed, everyone<\/em> shares the responsibility to protect wetlands in order to keep our planet\u2019s water cycle running as it should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wetlands are ecosystems where the land is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. This creates a unique environment<\/a> that supports diverse plant and animal life adapted to wet conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scholars and ecologists generally recognize two types of wetlands: coastal or tidal and inland or non-tidal. But beyond<\/a> these two categories, wetlands are quite varied. They can be made from freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water. They also include marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, and mangrove forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wetlands are found worldwide, from coastal estuaries and floodplains to inland river basins and high-altitude peatlands. Major wetland regions include the Everglades<\/a> in the U.S., the Okavango Delta<\/a> in Botswana, the Amazon River floodplains<\/a>, and the Sudd<\/a> in South Sudan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wetlands are often referred to as “nature\u2019s kidneys<\/a>” for their unparalleled ability to filter and purify water. They absorb pollutants, excess nutrients, and sediments, ensuring cleaner water downstream.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to their filtration properties, wetlands also act as natural sponges, absorbing excess rainwater and reducing the risk of floods<\/a>. This is especially important in regions experiencing increasing climate variability and extreme weather events \u2014 like sub-Saharan Africa, where The Water Project works. Western Kenya, in particular, experienced such extreme flooding<\/a> last year that schools and businesses had to shut down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another function of wetlands is that by holding and slowly releasing water, they help replenish underground aquifers<\/a>. This is good for Earth in multiple ways: it helps prevent the over-extraction of water, the formation of sinkholes and fissures, and a lack of water during dry seasons or droughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wetlands also provide a habitat<\/a> for countless species of plants, birds, fish, and other wildlife. Many of these species are not found anywhere else in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One type of wetland called peatland<\/a> is particularly important to Earth\u2019s balance of carbon and carbon dioxide, as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeatlands store up to 30% of the world\u2019s terrestrial carbon (C) despite occupying just 3% of the terrestrial land surface; they also represent a huge source of carbon that is at risk of being released by runaway climate change at current rates of warming. They therefore play a critical role in the global carbon cycle.\u201d <\/p>\n\u2014 Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Aside from their natural and ecological purposes, wetlands also support human activities like agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, offering vital resources and livelihoods for people worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their importance, wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate. We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. 64%<\/a> of the world\u2019s wetlands have been lost since 1900.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reasons for this loss are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Limited resources and governance challenges compound these threats in The Water Project\u2019s service areas. Degraded wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa often lead to reduced water availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While wetlands are globally significant, they take on an equally vital role in some of our service regions, such as Western Kenya and Sierra Leone. In these areas, wetlands provide critical ecosystem services that align closely with the organization\u2019s mission to ensure safe and sustainable access to water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, the Yala River Basin<\/a> in Western Kenya is home to extensive wetland systems that not only filter water but also supply local communities with water for domestic use and agriculture.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And in Sierra Leone<\/a>, chiefdoms like Kaffu Bullom and Lokomasama host wetlands that protect coastal areas, support rice farming, and sustain fisheries. The health of these wetlands directly impacts the livelihoods and food security of surrounding communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Are Wetlands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Value of Wetlands: Nature\u2019s Multitaskers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Threats to Wetlands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Protecting Wetlands Locally and Globally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Local Actions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Global Advocacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n