ABSTRACT
Wetlands fringe most coastlines of the world, as mangroves in the tropics and subtropics, and as salt marshes in the temperate zones. They mediate between the ecosystems of land and sea, serving as huge reservoirs of species diversity, providing rich wildlife habitats for birds, animals, and fish. They provide the spawning grounds for most of the world’s commercial fisheries, they act as natural buffers that temper the effects of extreme flooding and drought, they filter pollutants out of maritime systems, they recharge groundwater drinking supplies, and they stabilize coastal erosion. They stabilize and support the health of the planet.
