Why are wetland’s important?
Wetlands provide many valuable functions. The state’s Wetland Protection Act protects eight functions, called “interests”:
- Public and private water supply
- Ground water supply
- Flood control
- Storm damage prevention
- Pollution prevention
- Land containing shellfish
- Fisheries
- Wildlife habitat
The Wayland’s Wetlands and Water Resource Protection Bylaw protects all of the above, as well as these additional interests:
- Rare species habitat
- Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Adjoining land areas deemed important to the community
All of these interests ultimately benefit people, often in ways that are not obvious. For example, wetlands play a key role in recharging groundwater. Even though some wetlands have no apparent connection to surface water, most have critical groundwater connections. Wetlands are sponges that soak up water after storms, protecting us from floods. They also allow particles to settle so that pollutants can be detoxified by plants and microorganisms.
Wetlands are often wildlife “hot spots”, providing food, water, breeding sites, and cover for many species. The benefits to humans of wildlife habitat go beyond recreation: Green plants moderate climate by fixing carbon. Forest canopies clean air by capturing particles produced by combustion. Leaf surfaces are the site of chemical reactions that transform certain pollutants into harmless compounds.
Even rare species habitat benefits people. Nature is a system which functions best when all of its components – all its living organisms – are present. When habitats are polluted or lost to development, and when species disappear, the system begins to erode, natural processes are compromised, and humans ultimately suffer.