wetland facts

An Overview Of Wetland Values

There are many different values that have been attributed to wetlands.

However, not all wetlands provide all values. Many factors such as climate, geology, environmental history and human impact mean that within each type of wetland, functioning can be quite different.

As a result the values that arise can also be quite dissimilar, even between wetlands of the same type.

Direct Use Values

Wetland products

Wetlands have provided the economic lifeline for many communities through the rich variety of products they support. Fisheries and salt-mining are two activities with a long tradition in coastal lagoon areas in the Mediterraenan. Rice and vegetables are grown in floodplains and around deltas of Mediterranean rivers. Reeds found in wetlands are used as building material. Livestock graze on wetland grasses while dried reed collected in the summer time serves as livestock winter fodder.

Freshwater wetlands in particular can be very significant as agricultural land. Attempts to convert them into cultivated fields are nearly as old as agriculture itself. Wetlands provided farming grounds for rice and other staple cereals that are often grown in wetlands accross the world. In the Mediterranean rice is still the staple in many parts, despite the fact that this activity is no longer profitable and is sustained by subsidies through agro-environmental programmes.

Rice production in the Delta of the Ebro river, in Spain  began as recently as 1993 when an irrigation channel was built on the river's right bank. Today rice from the Ebro has an officially recognised label and is the basis of the delta economy.

On the north African coast fish and shellfish are an important source of protein for many people. In some parts of the Mediterranean, fishing for own consumption and for sale at local markets and restaurants is still a common practice.

Mullet, sea bream, sea bass and eel are all flagship fish species of Mediterranean wetlands. Mullet larvae need the sheltered areas of coastal lagoons, where they feed on weed, invertebrates and rich sediments found on the bottom of the lagoon, to grow into adults. It might take a young mullet as long as three years until it leaves the protected environment of the lagoon for the open sea.

Domestic livestock are grazed on marshes that provide high quality grazing, even during the driest summer months. The Camargue delta, on the Mediterranean coast of France supports approximately 8.000 horses and cattle.

In Lake Prespa, situated between Albania, FYR of Macedonia and Greece, buffalo grazing on the shores of the lake is beneficial both to man and to biodiveristy. By clearing off thick vegetation in the reedbeds, buffalos help create suitable areas for fish to spawn their eggs. This helps support high fish populations that sustain fishing activity but also for birds and animals higher up the food chain that depend on fish.

Salt pans, meticulously carved out of shallow lagoons, have been a traditional feature of the Mediterranean. Abundant sunshine coupled with high winds and low rainfall have combined to produce high rates of evaporation accross the Mediterranean. This combination of natural conditions makes the Mediterranean suitable for salt extraction.

Salt, used to preserve food was a good of great strategic importance. Salt trade routes were established across the Mediterranean to service the demand for this basic good.

Al-Idrisi, the great Arab geographer tells us that the Trapani and Marsala pans in Sicily, Italy were mined during Roman times. These ancient salt pans, that date as far back as the time of Etruscans and Phenicians have been mined continuously for salt down to present times.

Recreation and tourism

Wetlands can offer significant possibilities for recreation that can be harnessed to promote the development of tourism at a site. Features of beauty, rare or spectacular biodiversity or elements of a site that offer themselves to specific activities can be especially useful.

Canoeing and sailing on lakes, diving in marine wetlands such as coral reefs, sport fishing, hunting and birdwatching are all good examples. Recreation and tourism can be an important component of the sustainable management of wetland areas.

Roles as guides and food/refreshment vendors can provide local people with long term employment and sustainable income streams. However, tourism and recreation must be managed with due care and consideration. Damage can result to the resource on which it is based and local communities that are not involved in the local tourism business may be disenfranchised .