Monitoring and Evaluating the Ecological Health of Wetlands

Wetlands are vital for human survival. They are among the world’s most productive environments as they are cradles of biological diversity that provide the water and productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival. Wetlands provide habitat for thousands of species of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals as well as a number of societal benefits such as food and habitat for fish and wildlife, water quality improvement, flood storage, shoreline erosion control, economically beneficial natural products for human use, and opportunities for recreation, education, and research. According to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Wetlands, more than one-third of the United States’ threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands, and nearly half use wetlands at some point in their lives. This book offers a comprehensive look at the importance of wetland conservation, its challenges, and future aspects. The book highlights the challenges of wetland conservation and current scenarios of existing wetlands; the importance of the inland wetland and its conservation is particularly highlighted as it is critical and very important in the current existing wetland scenario. This book is critical for industries, academics, research scholars, and environmental consultants who are practicing wetland management.