Forested wetland ecosystems currently comprise a relatively small, yet potentially important and overlooked portion of the landscapes of the Central Hardwood Region. Prior to European settlement, several million acres of forested wetlands existed within the region. This has been reduced to a fraction of the original area as much of the land has been converted to urban, agricultural, or other industrial uses. Forested wetlands have many functions and can potentially provide many ecologic as well as economic benefits.
Wetlands regulate water flows, thus helping to dampen the peaks and troughs in channel flow.
They protect stream and river banks from erosion, and improve water quality by filtering sediments and pollutants before they reach flowing water. Wetlands also provide habitat for a wide range of plants and animals, including a disproportionate number of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species. In addition to these ecological functions, forested wetlands often have the potential to be extremely productive in terms of timber and other forest products. Forested wetlands are currently receiving considerable attention from both research and the media. Most of the research has been centered in the Southeast United States.