User:Marufy

Role of Wetland for Ecosystem Services

The major role of wetland are: Ground water recharge, Ground water discharge, storage of flood water, shoreline stabilization and reduction of erosion, sediment trapping, nutrient retention/removal, support for food chains, fisheries production, habitat for wildlife, recreation, natural heritage values, biomass production, water transport, bio-diversity presentation and micro-climate stabilization (IWRB 1992, Dugan 1990).

The wetlands in Bangladesh have great ecological, economic, commercial and socio-economic importance. They contain very rich components of biodiversity of local, national and regional significance. Among the estimated 5,000 species of flowering plants and 1,500 of vertebrates in the country, up to 300 plant species and some 400 vertebrate species are judged to be dependent on wetlands for all or part of their life span. Wetland also provide habitat for a variety of resident and migratory waterfowl, a significant number of endangered species of international interest, and a large number of commercially important ones. The inland capture fishery is based on the vast freshwater resources with some 260 species of fin fishes and 25 shell fish. There is substantial basis for the view that the country’s natural resources, especially the Sundarbans, could support development of richer tourism. Wetlands also support a significant range of other activities such as extraction of reed, harvesting if edible aquatic vegetation and their products, medicinal herbs, shell, etc., M. Salar Khan (1994).

Bangladesh wetlands also play an important role in flood control and storm surge protection. They also support fisheries, wildlife and forest resources. Wetlands are unique for their rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. It is the combination of all these function, yields and values that makes wetlands so important to the society.