Honestly, you can’t put a monetary value on the importance of wetlands. Of course as sportsmen, we count on wetlands to provide habitat for the game we pursue and the fish we catch. But these aquatic sanctuaries have other purposes as well.
According to Austin Delano, Habitat and Wildlife Consultant for Mossy Oak BioLogic, wetlands are paramount for both pollution and flood control. “They are nature’s giant filter,” Delano noted. “They look nasty and they smell nasty, but one-acre of wetlands can store up to 1.5 million gallons of flood water. In fact, in the early 90s there was a huge flood in the Midwest. Experts say that man’s manipulation of wetlands up and down the Mississippi River floodplain was a huge asset in helping to control that flood. Another huge value of wetlands is how they help control both manmade and natural pollutants. Wetlands are able to collect pollutants and filter them from the ground water runoff. Wetlands play a pivotal role in cleaning these pollutants and making the water useable again. A single acre of wetlands, from a pollution control standpoint, is truly invaluable. Then, of course, there is the recreational value. Throngs of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and other game animals call wetlands home. They rely on them to survive and breed. So as you can see, you really can’t put a value on how important they are, and we should all do our part to protect them.
The Mossy Oak GameKeepers share the belief that being outdoors is about loving the land, its wildlife, and giving back more than you take. For more articles and information about managing land for wildlife, please visit farmingforwildlife.com.
