Ecological Health of Wetland Ecosystem: An overview

Abstract

Wetlands are unique, productive ecosystems where terrestrial and aquatic habitats meet. Wetlands play a critical role in maintaining many natural cycles and supporting a wide range of biodiversity. Wetlands can also contribute to the wellbeing of the community by acting as urban green spaces which provide aesthetic appeal, landscape diversity and recreational opportunities. Globally wetlands are under threat due to altered hydrology, destruction of vegetation, fragmentation, dumping of waste, being drained and other anthropogenic reasons. Wetlands provide numerous ecological goods and services but are under tremendous stress due to rapid urbanization, industrialization and agricultural intensification. An inventory of wetlands of any region is a pre-requisite for their conservation and management. One of the aims of monitoring is to provide information for ecological assessment, which can provide early warning of changes that could negatively affect species or ecosystems.