ABSTRACT
Wetlands encompass a diverse array of unique ecosystems, including marshes, rivers, lakes, estuaries, man-made waterscapes and shallow coastal waters. Despite occupying <9% of the Earth’s surface, these habitats play a disproportionately large role in supporting global biodiversity and human livelihoods through the provision of ecosystem services, including climate regulation, water purification, food provision, soil stabilisation and nutrient cycling, to name a few. Wetlands also provide societal benefit through the provision of cultural ecosystem services (CES); however, these non-material benefits are often under-represented in ecosystem services assessments and the wider scientific literature due to difficulties identifying and valuing intangible attributes. Given the rapid wetland loss and degradation across the globe, it is imperative to increase the understanding and consideration of wetland CES among decision-makers by clearly demonstrating their value to society. This chapter provides an overview of CES contributed by wetlands using a series of case studies across different wetland types. The chapter also highlights current trends in the literature, geographic distribution of research, methods for assessing wetland CES, habitats that supply specific CES, threats to CES provision and knowledge gaps.
