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Top1. Introduction
Wetlands are singular ecosystems situated at the transition between terrestrial and aquatic systems. Their unique properties and uncommon location provide to human important benefits, or “ecosystem services,” (ES) classified into four categories by the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA, 2005; Andel, 2006) (Table 1).
Table 1. Ecosystem services obtained from wetlands (MEA, 2005)
| Services | Comments and Examples |
| PROVISIONING | |
| Food | Production of fish, wild game, fruits and grains |
| Fresh water | Storage and retention of water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use. |
| Fiber and fuel | Production of logs, fuel wood, peat, fodder. |
| Biochemical | Extraction of medicines and other materials from biota. |
| Genetic material | Genes for resistance to plant pathogens, ornamental species, and so on. |
| REGULATING | |
| Climate regolation | Source on and sink for greenhouse gases;influence local and regional temperature, precipitation, and other climatic processes. |
| Water/hydrological regulation | Groundwater recharge and disharge. |
| Water purification/ waste treatment | Retention, recovery, and removal of excess nutrients and other pollutants. |
| Erosion regulation | Retention of soils and sediments |
| Natural hazard regulation | Flood control, storm protection |
| Pollination | Habitat for pollinators |
| CULTURAL | |
| Spiritual and inspirational | Source of inspiration; religions attach spiritual and religious values to aspects of wetland ecosystems. |
| Aesthetic | Many people find beauty of aesthetic value in aspects of wetland ecosystems. |
| Educational | Opportunities for formal and informal education and training. |
| SUPPORTING | |
| Soil formation | Sediment retention and accumulation of organic matter. |
| Nutrient cycling | Storage, recycling, processing, and acquisition of nutrients |
Key Terms in this Chapter
Sea Level Rise: The rise of sea level due to seawater volume's change and thermal expansion's change, it could be apparent, due to subsidence, and scientists could give one measure, summing this apparent sea level.
Ecological Restoration: Ecological functions and processes' rehabilitation.
Ecological Restorations and Sustainable Planning: To plan for ecosystem maintenance and conservation avoiding loss of services and functions.
Ecosystem Approach: A strategy for land, water and living resources' management which promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.
Climate Change: A statistically significant change in the mean state or the temporal variability of the climate due to natural variation of external forcing, anthropogenic changes in the atmosphere’s composition, or changes in land use.
Adaptive Management: An approach to natural resources' management based on learning by doing, and on making decisions as part of an on-going process of monitoring,review, and adaptation.
Constructed and Restored Versus Natural Wetlands: The complex intervention of ecological functions and processes 's of wetland's rehabilitation in a landscape context and regarding a natural wetland as reference site.
Wetland Restoration: Wetland's ecological functions and processes rehabilitation returning to a natural pristine state only after many years.