Wetland Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and the Impact of Climate Change

Wetlands are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. Wetlands provide many ecosystem services; supplying fresh water, providing resilience against drought, providing food and diverse habitats which support genetic, species, and ecosystem biodiversity. They play a key role in the life cycles of many species and in annual migration patterns. Because of their ephemeral character and their small size, these vulnerable ecosystems decline rapidly along with climate changes and the expansion of human activities. Rational management of wet ecosystems need accompanying actions covering research, systematic observation, training, education, perception, capacity building, information, network development and technology transfer. This book produces innovative concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications for ecosystem services valuation, wetlands biodiversity conservation, fresh water supply and its impact on biodiversity, agricultural production, food security and wetland management. This book assesses the cumulative risk posed to wetlands habitats and species by human activities, explore consequences for the delivery of ecosystem services and biodiversity at local, regional and global scales, as well as the impacts of climate change on wetlands ecosystems and water resources.