Wetlands in the management of diffuse agricultural run-off

Abstract

Natural wetland functions modify the flows and physico-chemical composition of water, as extensive systems as well as localized pockets distributed across landscapes. Contemporary, heavily modified urban and rural landscapes generate a range of diffuse sources of pollution. Intensification of land use not only generates substantial and diverse pollutants but also displaces wetland function- ing naturally mitigating at least some of the problems caused by increased run-off. Retention, restoration of construction of novel wetlands and wetland functioning in agricultural landscapes is of particular importance for the reduction of run-offfrom farmed land.