Wetlands act like sponges, releasing stored water slowly. 2. for erosion control. 3. for improving water quality. Wetlands are giant filters, trapping sediment and pollution that wash off the land. 4. for improving air quality 5. for wildlife habitat.
Many species require wetlands for all or part of their life cycle.
Some of the rarest birds and plants are wetland species. 6. for their high productivity. An acre of marsh wetland in Southern Ontario can be compared to an acre of rainforest in South America. A breeding bird survey conducted by members of the KW Field Naturalists and Guelph Field Naturalists in 1999 along the proposed highway 7 alignment identified a number of wetland dependent species. Nine of these are regionally significant or uncommon breeders.