Freshwater wetlands are among the most important yet least appreciated links in the ecological chain. They provide water, food and shelter for aquatic and land animals (including humans), provide breeding grounds for birds and other wildlife, serve as natural water reservoirs and filters, and reduce erosion along river banks and shorelines.
Yet wetlands are endangered in their own right ¡V easily overwhelmed by pollution and lacking the perceived ¡§glamour¡¨ of other natural habitats. Their flat, open spaces create tempting targets to be exploited for irrigated agriculture or aquaculture, or drained to become housing developments for industrial parks. Half of the world¡¦s wetlands have been destroyed in the past 100 years.
Wetlands are enormously important to Hong Kong, both for their environmental benefits and as a community resource. |
