Wetlands and people's well-being: Basic needs, food security and medicinal properties

Abstract

Demonstrating links between wetlands and health is a useful way of encouraging policymakers to act before the 'Water for Life' decade ends in 2015. This chapter describes the contributions wetlands make to people's well-being, such as food security through high water quality, protein or edible and medicinal plants. Earning cash income through trade in harvested wetland resources (such as fish, shell-fish or fibrous plants) can also have livelihood benefits. Although some wetlands can have negative effects on public health (such as bilharzia), public appreciation of positive wetland values and their links to public health can motivate local action and policy reform for wetland conservation and resource management. Lessons from innovative cases such as the RUPES programme in Indonesia can inspire new initiatives that put policies into practice for the benefit of local people.