The value of wetlands and “swamps”
Wetlands remove over 90% of nutrients, harmful bacteria and silt from water. They are nature’s water filtration. Reed beds are natural freshwater wetland systems. They need to be shallow with a large water, soil interface and lots of reed. Reeds work as an oxygen pump, keeping the bed of the wetland oxygenated and a good environment for aerobic bacteria to clean up the water and provide nutrients for the reds to grow. Properly constructed, these wetlands can be a source of clean water to recharge depleted aquifers.
Samphire swamps are saline wetlands or salt marshes and are a vital part of the marine ecology. They should never be considered as wasteland as they often are. Get out of the car and use a magnifying glass to look at the plants. Some of them are very beautiful.
Over the years wetlands have been called a swamp, which has become a rather derogatory term. They have often been used as dumps and considered to be difficult wasteland. They flood and may well have acid sulphate soil when disturbed – so why disturb them.Wetlands, both the fresh and saltwater variety, are an extremely valuable part of our aquatic ecology. We need to nurture and rebuild them where we can to improve our overall water quality.
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