insect-eatingpitcherplantsinanIrish bog
Marshes,mangroves,swamps,andbogs.Whatdotheseplaceshaveincommon?They’reall wetlands.
Whydowedependonwetlands?ThisissueofExplorermagazineisgoingtotellyou.First,let’slearnsome basics.
Whatisawetland?It’slandthatiscoveredbywateratleastpartoftheyear.Wetlandsareneithertotallydrylandnortotallyunderwater.Thewatercanbesaltwater,freshwater,or both.
The sun is a fiery ball of gases.
Fact
Myth
WetlandsareoneverycontinentexceptAntarctica.Somearefloodedwoodlands.Others,waterygrasslands.Stillothershavespongymosses.Yet,theyareallecosystems,andeachisvitalto Earth.
Wetlandsfilterwater.Theypreventfloods.Theyarehometowildlife.Theysoakuppollutantsbeforetheyreachother waterways.
asmallmarshvillageinthe Philippines
amangroveforestin Brazil
Butwetlandsareunderthreat.Peoplewantwetlandsforfarmingandhomes.Climatechangeisinterfering,too,bringingfloodsand droughts.
Inthisissue,ourNationalGeographicExplorerswilltellyouaboutthepowerofwetlands.We’llalsolookatthechallengesofprotecting them.
BrennaMaloney, managingeditor,Explorer