They are the breeding ground for many endangered migratory birds. They are also an important fresh water source for many rural communities in South Africa. Yet many wetlands, both in South Africa and here in the United States, are being destroyed or degraded due to drainage programs caused by crop production and timbering. Others are filled in to build roads and houses. The demand for water is increasing daily because of the population explosion and industrialization.
Water rationing is likely to become a fact of life in the near future.
Although the oceans are so vast, their true biological wealth is concentrated in a relatively narrow strip along the continental shelves, coastal margins, and estuaries. Americans may empathize due to the crash of the Exxon Valdez off the coast of Alaska. Forests are an integral part of the Earth's life-support systems, playing a crucial role in regulating the atmosphere and climate through their ability to store carbon and return oxygen to the atmosphere. They protect soils from excessive erosion, regulate runoff, and reduce the effects of floods. Natural forests are usually highly diverse ecosystems, supporting millions of species.