What is a "wetland" for the purpose of this debate?
Published on by Wetlandsforum Project Office, Wetlandsfourm.net
Many formal definitions for wetlands exist, some broad, some detailed and technical. For the purpose of this debate, we want to keep it simple:
Wetlands are shallow freshwater systems - marches and swamps, as well as the margins and floodplains of rivers and lakes. Two characteristics of such wetlands carry the inherent potential for policy conflicts: On the one hand, they provide complex habitats essential to sustain biodiversity. On the other hand, they are highly amenable towater 'management' - through draining, damming and channeling.