The many different types and locations of wetlands make measuring their benefits difficult. However, regardless of where or what kind of wetland it is, there are some basic reasons that make wetlands so very important. These reasons include commercial values, recreational values, wildlife habitats, water quality management, storm buffers, erosion control, and flood control. Commercial and Recreational Values Wetlands provide opportunities for many popular recreational activities such as boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, and bird-watching. Their economic value lies in the variety of commercial products they provide, such as food, fiber, lumber, and energy resources.
Coastal wetlands are also habitats for many furbearing mammals that provide for a strong fur market.
Additionally, in many coastal and river delta wetlands, grazing and haying of wetland vegetation are extremely important to livestock producers. One reason wetlands are so important is the unique wildlife and vegetation they support. They are among the most productive natural ecosystems on the earth. They produce great quantities of plants, some of which could not live anywhere else. Some of the plants specific to wetlands are cattails, swamp rose, spider lilies, and cypress trees.