WETLANDS ARE TO BE ENJOYED AND CELEBRATED SAYS CIWEM
CIWEM urges the UK to visit local wetland centres,
woodlands and coastal areas to enjoy the benefits wetlands offer
society, highlighting their importance economically,
environmentally and spiritually.
2011 was a good year for the natural environment with a number
of high profile documents being released in support of wetland
protection. The UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK NEA) marked
the first analysis of the UK's natural environment in terms of the
benefits it provides to society and continuing economic prosperity.
This provided the evidence for the Natural Environment White Paper,
the first for more than 20 years, which highlighted the importance
of placing the value of nature at the heart of our decision
making.
Both of these documents identified the many benefits of
wetlands, including recreation, flood alleviation, biodiversity and
habitat diversity, alongside the increasing pressures they face.
Wetlands are very sensitive to subtle changes in water supply and
quality, including acidity, nutrient levels and water table
fluctuations, alongside economic factors associated with population
growth, economic prosperity, and increased demand for land for
intensive agriculture, compounded further by competing agricultural
and environmental policies. 2012 looks set to be an increasingly
challenging year, with drought forecast across the South East of
England.
Effective measurement and consideration of ecosystem services
will deliver significant steps in alleviating many of these
pressures. However, this is problematic as precise figures for the
current extent of the UK's Wetlands remain difficult to calculate.
Alongside this the delivery of their ecosystem services depends on
their ecological condition and actual location within the
landscape. More technical data is therefore required to manage this
resource effectively. CIWEM offers support for this work and urges
the wider public to demonstrate their commitment through visiting
their local wetland reserves.
CIWEM executive director, Nick Reeves, said: 'This year's
World Wetlands Day highlighted the role of responsible tourism in
supporting both wetlands and people. CIWEM urges the people of the
UK to go out and visit a local reserve, helping to support the many
charitable groups that run our wetlands and adding their voice to
the message that wetlands play an important and intrinsic role to
this nation's well being.'
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