Watching footage of vast swathes of trees being demolished by bulldozers or decimated by fire is without doubt a worrying sight. And while deforestation and the demise of woodland habitats is often headline news, the loss of wetland sites is sliding under the public radar. Would it surprise you to know that wetlands are disappearing three times faster than woodlands? And it is a trend that’s not slowing down; in fact, it is accelerating. This makes wetlands the most threatened habitats on the planet.
Wetlands such as Titchwell and Snettisham support a variety of wildlife including migratory waterbirds. Many birds are wetland dependent, using these environments for breeding, nesting, raising their young and social interaction. These important areas provide food in the form of plants, vertebrates and invertebrates. Species such as knot, hunt for food in the substrate. Goldeneye and pochard dive far beneath the surface of the water in search of small fish, insects and aquatic plants. Mallard, teal and other dabbling ducks feed on the water’s surface. Herons and bitterns feed on the small fish and eels that use the surrounding watercourses to swim between landscapes.
In addition to being vital habitats for birds, wetlands are an ally in the fight against climate change. Larger regions act as natural sponges, absorbing rainfall and reducing flooding and coastal salt marshes provide resilience against tidal surges.
Despite everything wetlands do for us, more and more continue to be lost, along with the wildlife they are home to. UK ecologists estimate that only 10 per cent of our ancient wetlands still survive. However, it’s not too late to respond to threats from drainage, chemical pollution and waste. We can all use water more sparingly, avoid using toxic products that might enter our watercourses and refrain from dumping waste in wetland habitats.
Many conservation organisations are working not only to protect local wetlands but to restore degraded ones. Advocacy and bold decisions are needed at national and local levels if we are to save these stressed, but hard-working ecosystems. Ventures such as the Hanson-RSPB Wetland Project and Titchwell’s Fresh Water Habitats project, are providing innovative and inspiring solutions for threatened wetland regions.
If you’d like to know how you can support wetland conservation, please go to www.rspb.org.uk