From the vast Pantanal to the swampy Florida Everglades, wetlands provide a home for 40% of all plant and animal species. Sadly, these habitats are disappearing rapidly.
With the growing threat of habitat loss due to urbanization, we stand to lose our greatest treasure: natural habitats. Our HOPE FOR HABITATS series looks at the composition of each habitat, their integral purpose — and how you can help preserve the BIODIVERSITY within them for generations to come.
And today, we are looking at a habitat that is quickly disappearing before our eyes: wetlands.
What exactly is a wetland?
Dispersed throughout the world (except Antartica), wetlands are essential ecosystems teeming with biodiversity on land and in water. Wetlands are categorized based on their composition. Swamps, marshes, and bogs are all sub-categories of wetlands with distinct attributes. All of them have one defining feature in common that makes them wetlands: their soil (called hydric soil) is submerged by water in each ecosystem.
World Famous Wetlands
Wetlands can be found around the world — from the Congo to the United States. The two most well-known wetlands are the Florida Everglades in the United States and the Pantanal in Brazil. Here's what makes each unique:
Pantanal Wetlands
Spanning from Brazil to Bolivia, the Pantanal is 195,000 square km (72,517 square mi) and bigger than England. The Pantanal accounts for 3% of the world’s total wetlands. Home to a wide range of plant and animal species; like the giant water lily and caiman crocodile, the Pantanal is a treasure trove of BIODIVERSITY. People rely on the Pantanal, too, for resources like clean drinking water and the popular pequot fruit. Sadly, despite its importance for both animals and humans, the Pantanal is primarily privately owned and only a small portion is protected; this puts biodiversity at even greater risk. Even within protected areas, the Pantanal faces grave threats. In 2020, this region experienced one of its most active — and devastating — wildfire seasons seasons ever recorded. Climate change was the biggest driver of the inferno.
Florida Everglades
The Florida Everglades is 20,202 square km (7,800 square mi) of dense sawgrass speckled with 39 species of orchid. Designated a national park in 1947 as protection from human activity, the Everglades is home to the elusive (and endangered) Florida panther. Aside from providing a home for many plant and animal species, the Everglades is also a source of clean drinking water for 8 million people in Florida. Despite its protected status, the Everglades still faces threats from habitat loss from the rapid urbanization of surrounding areas — only 50% of the original Everglades remains.
Let’s create hope for wetlands
People, animals, and plants rely on the wetlands for freshwater and other resources, but globally, wetland habitats have declined up to 35% in the past 300 years. Essential wetlands, like the Pantanal and Florida Everglades, are threatened by human activity and need urgent protection. Supporting wetland conservation efforts is necessary for the survival of both these essential ecosystems — and us. We only have one home.
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Protect habitats. Protect BIODIVERSITY. All month long with #VAKOVAKO.
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Don’t miss it: Wander with us through disappearing grasslands next week.
