Fewer than half of that acreage remains today and many acres continue to be converted to farmland or development. Wetlands provide the wintering, nesting and staging habitat for many species of wildlife. Wetlands recycle critical nutrients, help prevent erosion, reduce flood and storm damages as well as provide food and protection to fish and other aquatic life. In addition they help filter impurities providing water quality control as water flows from the land into bodies of water. They also support hunting and fishing activities, both recreational and commercial.
Wetlands are the marshes, swamps, bogs, and other areas that exist between open water and dry land.
There are two broad categories of wetlands - coastal and inland. Coastal wetlands are affected by tides and provide important nursery habitats for many kinds of fishes and birds. They may be either saltwater or freshwater. Two saltwater wetlands are salt marshes and mangrove swamps. Inland wetlands are located in the interior of the country.