Wetland

A wetland or wetland is an area which lies in the transition region from dry to permanently moist ecosystems. The term of the wetland is comprised of various habitat types of flora and fauna such as floodplain, swamp forest, wet meadow, bog, marshes, swamp, marsh ditch or marsh, which are adapted to the full-year surplus of water.

A generally accepted definition of " wetland " does not exist. The term, or its equivalents in another language (eg, engl. " Wetland " ) are interpreted differently in European countries according to national tradition. The definition in the Ramsar Convention reads as follows: (Article 1) " wetlands for the purposes of this Convention, wetlands, marsh and wetlands or waters that are natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt water including areas of marine water, which do not exceed a depth of six meters at low tide. ". This definition is broader than that in the German tradition. Most marine habitats here are not taken into wetlands. The use of language is, however, ambiguous in relation to the Wadden Sea. Names of the Wadden Sea as a wetland done but mostly under the Ramsar Convention (eg ). In vegetation science, the term is generally not common. In the recognized standard textbooks (eg Ellenberg ), the term does not appear. Definitions of the term may be from three viewpoints:

Whether represent open water " wetlands ", will also be handled differently depending on the authors. In the broad definition of the Ramsar Convention are included. Most German-speaking authors expect only transitional areas between open water and terrestrial habitats to the wetlands. Smaller water bodies like ponds and ponds or temporary and periodic waters are, however, usually included. Lakes or rivers and streams are generally not considered to be wetlands belonging, although there are recognized as being important drug interactions and these waters are often surrounded by wetlands.

Wetlands are of great ecological importance, since they serve for water and wading birds as a resting and wintering area. Wetlands cover about six percent of the earth's surface and provide 24 percent of the net primary production - so they are highly productive ecosystems. They also serve as basic as water filters and flood protection. Wetlands of international importance, also in regard to the protection of birds, are therefore classified according to the Ramsar Convention under protection.

Of particular importance are wetlands in climate change because they can store large amounts of carbon dioxide worldwide. They thus contribute to reducing the greenhouse effect, emit due to the always limited storage capacity, parts of the stored carbon dioxide in the form of methane again.

Another importance of wetlands is their function as water reservoirs. Moore and marshes can absorb large quantities of water and slowly and time-delayed release it again. Thus, they help to reduce the risk of flooding in under -lying areas. On the other hand, they can support the low-water runoff and thus prevent dehydration phases. In addition, wetlands serve as a sink for pollutants and nutrients and can subject areas and waters relieve. Due to the nutrient sink function many wetlands are exceptionally productive.

Significant surviving wetlands are for example the Pantanal floodplains of Bhar Aouk and Salamat, the Everglades and the Wadden Sea. The agreed by UNESCO Ramsar Convention seeks to international cooperation in the protection of wetlands.