ABSTRACT
Wetlands most often support a rich biodiversity, well beyond their direct area, and provide significant ecological and socio-economic benefits. Benefits include improving/maintaining water quality by reducing pollutants and bio-conservation of soil, water, and biological diversity that reside in or migrate through these ecosystems. This displays the vast array of benefits provided by wetlands as hydrological systems, beyond their inherent ability to improve water quality, and the need to conserve them. In addition to wild collection of species possessing traditional/medicinal properties, placing further pressure on these habitats, these ecosystems are already threatened due to urbanization, agriculture, and mining. On the other hand, the medicinal use of wetland species may provide opportunity to conserve wetland ecosystems through the enrichment of ecological awareness and the need for sustainable utilization (in situ conservation) and ex situ cultivation/conservation. Due to the growing understanding and utilization of natural products, it is necessary that desired species be propagated and cultivated as to reduce pressure on natural ecosystems. Therefore, in the interest of wetland ecosystems and the biodiversity they support, it is necessary to inform readers of suitable propagation and cultivation practices for the regeneration and production of desired species with significant potential. Beyond the commercial production of these species, this information may facilitate sustainable rural development while reducing the exploitation of natural habitats and conserving biodiversity.
