Wetlands are the link between the land and the water. They are areas where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the energy of the sun produce a rich variety of plant and animal life.
Wetlands provide values that no other ecosystem can.
These benefits include natural water quality improvement, flood protection, shoreline erosion control, and habitat for unique plants and animals. Thus, protecting wetlands can, in turn, provide a range of benefits from safety to sustenance. They are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. The combination of shallow water and high levels of nutrients is ideal for the development of organisms that form the base of the food web and feed many species of fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects. Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and shelter, especially during migration and breeding.