For many of us, water simply flows from a faucet, and we think little about it beyond this point of contact.
We have lost a sense of respect for the wild river, for the complex workings of a wetland, for the intricate web of life that water supports.
What is a wetland?
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with moisture either permanenty or seasonally.
These areas may be covered partially or completely by shallow pools of water, hosting plants adapted to living in conditions of water saturation, and a reach variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Wetlands play a number of roles in the environment, principally water purification, flood control, carbon sink and shoreline stability.
Filtering the water and controlling the floods
Wetlands along first-order streams are very efficient at nitrate removal from the inflowing water, and sediment removal from surface water. They protect streambanks from erosion and moderate the temperature, benefiting the aquatic life.
When these substances enter a wetland, its plants uptake many of the harmful substances into their roots and process them into less harmful ones before releasing them back to the water. Harmful substances may also be buried in wetland soil, where bacteria and other microorganisms digest the substances and converts them into no longer harmful compounds.
Wetlands along higher-order streams influence the water quality, but particularly during flood events.
Types of wetlands
The most important factor producing wetlands is flooding.
The duration of flooding determines whether the resulting wetland has aquatic, marsh or swamp vegetation.
Other important factors include fertility, natural disturbance, competition, herbivory, burial and salinity.
Mineral soil wetlands:
Marshes: This wetland's ground is covered by fresh water for long periods of time (may it be from a lake, river or spring). Usually treeless and with a flora based on grasses and other herbaceous plants.
Subtypes: tidal marshes, non-tidal marshes, wet meadows, prairie potholes, vernal pools, playa lakes.
Swamps: Land permanently saturated with river water and, sometimes, even covered by it. Some swamps develop from marshes that slowly fill in, allowing trees and woody bushes to grow. Subtypes: forested swamps, shrub swamps.
Organic soil wetlands:
Bogs: Wetland of soft ground due to fresh water (usually formed in an old glacial lake, out of rain). Made mostly of decomposing plant matter. Subtypes: northern bogs, pocosins.
Fens: Fresh water peat wetland covered by grasses, sedges, reeds and wildflowers of high pH (alkaline) ground water.
Since the difficult task on classifying the wetlands, further classifications can be distinguished by clicking here; following the hydrogemorphology traits, the Canadian classification sytem, etc.
Current situation
Most of our current wetlands are under protection programs, since their state is less and less considered, and its function still vital for the ecosystems around. It is important to develop and implement strategies for their long-term protection.
Human impact and wetland's impairment
The conditions of the wetlands have been used for our industrial and residential activities (urbanization), marinas and boats development, agriculture, silviculture / timber harvest, mining... which have lead to hydrologic alteration and atmospheric deposition. Affecting their preservation.
Kovilj - Petrovaradin wetlands
Special Nature Reserve Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski RIT
Where: 20km from Novi Sad, 60 km from Beograd (Serbia)
Surface area: 5895 ha
Protection regime: 1st level (373 ha), 2nd level (1738 ha), 3rd level (3784 ha)
International status: IBA (Important Bird Area), IPA (Important Plant Area), Emerald Site and Ramsar Site (since 2010)
The Reserve contains forest, meadow, swamp and marsh-like ecosystems. As well as a great number of islets, sleeves, meanders, swamps and marshes, diverse wildlife among which many species are strictly protected.
One of the most representative and preserved navigable marsh complexes along the Danube River, an endless and almost pathless expanse of swamps and marshes.
It hosts a great diversity of fish (46 species), marsch birds during the nesting and migration periods (172 species), as well as represents a migratory fish path.
For more information, check out the interactive video about the wetland and its life, here.
Help on preserving it!
Wetlands conservation, Sremski Karlovci, serbia
10 volunteers
23-07-2016 TO 07-08-2016
Organized by the
Vojvodina Environmental Movement (VEM)
The aim of the workcamp is to enhance the ecotourism offer of Sremski Karlovci, by developing the infrastructure for realization of ecotourism programmes and increasing the visibility of areas within special nature reserve KoviljiPetrovatadin Wetlands.
The activities on the workcamp contribute to raising awareness of the citizens on the importance of conservation of special reservations. This is second year VEM is organizing Wetlands Conservation workcamp.
The volunteers (18+) will work on two sites within KoviljiPetrovaradin Wetlands and Old Danube (Stare Dunav) location, removing the invasive plants, creating walking paths and cleaning the area, and Kurjacka greda location, painting the wooden infrastructure, setting up educational materials.
