Importance of wetlands Wetlands are extremely important for the environment. They can purify water, filter and remove pollutants from the soil, displace flood waters, and provide shelter for animals. They are also capable of capturing and depositing climate-influencing carbon ,  (CO 2 ) responsible for the greenhouse effect . Peatlands, for example, store at least twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests. How many wetlands have disappeared A study in Nature looks at how many wetlands have been destroyed by humans since the 18th century. Previously, it was believed that up to 50% of these lands could disappear.

Which combines with oxygen to form the gas

According to new data, this figure is closer to 21% – in total, this is Haiti Email List an area the size of India. Some countries have suffered greater losses than others. For example, Ireland has lost over 90% of its wetlands. The main reason was their drainage for agriculture. The loss of a wetland of a few hectares may seem insignificant on a global scale. However, this can seriously affect neighboring settlements, which begin to flood in spring and autumn.  flora and fauna. Approximately 40% of the Earth’s animal and plant species live and breed in wetlands. In addition, about a billion people depend on wetlands for food, raw materials, nutrients, and hydropower.

Some parts of the world have lost wetlands more

Scientific work inspires hope In the study, scientists described the Buy Email List complexities that hinder the protection of wetlands. For example, sometimes experts cannot determine whether an area falls into this category. This is due to the fact that the amount of humidity in some regions in a particular season is difficult to measure. The researchers also note that the disappearance of territories occurs unevenly.  than the world average. The USA, India, China, Japan, European states and regions of Southeast Asia have lost about 50% of such territories. This difference gives some hope.