…are like giant sponges.

They prevent flooding. During heavy rains, they collect and hold water. They also protect coastal areas from storms that can wash away beaches and communities.

…act as water treatment facilities.

They filter and clean water. Chemicals found in fertilizer often wash into wetlands. Wetland plants, fungi, and algae absorb these harmful chemicals. Other pollutants sink to the bottom. There they are buried in soil.

…are homes for many species.

Many plant and animal species depend on wetlands for their survival.

Two-thirds of the fish eaten worldwide depend on wetlands during their life cycle.

…are diverse ecosystems.

Wetlands cover only five percent of the United States. Yet more than one-third of threatened or endangered species in the U.S. live only in wetlands. An additional 20 percent use wetlands during their lives.

…are important to people.

Nearly 400 million people live close to wetlands. People depend on them. They use wetlands to grow crops like rice. Wetlands are also used for fun. People fish and boat on them. In fact, Americans spend more than $100 billion on wetland activities every year.

As much as half the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900, despite their value to people and wildlife.

Development

Development often changes wetlands by removing vegetation. Then wetlands are filled or drained to build houses and roads.

Invasive Species

The introduction of non‑native plants and animals causes native species to compete. If native species die off, the ecosystem gets disrupted.

Agriculture

Wetland soil is often made into land for farming. The runoff from nearby farmland can hurt wetlands.

Climate Change

The rise in sea levels has been caused by climate change. As a result, many coastal wetlands may be permanently flooded.

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A wetland is an area of land that is entirely covered by water for at least part of the year. Do all wetlands look the same? No! Each is a distinct ecosystem that supports life.

Bog

A bog is a wetland that accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant material. Much of this material comes from mosses, like sphagnum moss. Their spongy, mossy floors contain fewer nutrients than a marsh or swamp. As a result, they cannot support large plants.

Only specially adapted creatures like salamanders, dragonflies, snakes, and carnivorous plants thrive in bogs.

Bogs are generally found in cool, northern climates. They receive most of their water from precipitation.

As a wetland, bogs improve water quality, trap carbon in their soil, and provide a habitat for unique plants and animals.

sphagnum moss

frog

County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Mangrove

A mangrove is a wetland filled with salt-loving trees. These trees thrive where most plants fail—in brackish water with twice-daily ocean tides. The trees have complex root and salt filtration systems to cope with saltwater and wave action.

Mangroves are important breeding and nesting grounds for birds. They are also vital nurseries for young fish.

Mangroves are often found along tropical coasts where freshwater meets saltwater.

As a wetland, mangroves are important for storm surge protection, and they move carbon from the air into their soil for long-term storage.

mangrove roots

scarlet ibis

Los Haitises National Park, Dominican Republic

Swamp

A swamp is a wetland dominated by woody plants and trees. The wet ground creates a thick, nutritious soil for water-tolerant plants.

Animals that live in swamps—like alligators and frogs—are adapted to changing water levels. Tree root systems provide a rich, sheltered habitat for nesting birds, as well as fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

Freshwater swamps are commonly found inland, while saltwater swamps are usually found along coastal areas. They are fed by water from underground or surface water such as rivers.

As a wetland, swamps serve vital roles in flood protection and nutrient removal.

tupelo tree

American
crocodile

Florida Everglades, USA

Marsh

A marsh is a wetland that supports reeds and grasses. Small shrubs often grow along the edges as the land gets drier, but there are few trees.

In Botswana, lions, jackals, and bat-eared foxes can be seen on the outskirts of marshes. They are home to diverse birdlife, such as Abdim’s storks, kori bustards, and large secretary birds.

Marshes can be formed by tides in lowland areas near a coast. Rivers often form marshlands on low lying floodplains and near lakes that flood during the wet season.