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Expert Voices - Ducks Unlimited The Cleansing Power of Wetlands - Water Filters for the World
For centuries, people harbored the perception that wetlands were nothing more than useless, stagnate wastelands – places that, at best, should be drained and converted to agriculture or covered with concrete. In their haste to rid landscapes of this apparent nuisance, many people failed to recognize the value of wetlands. Like the mold that gave us penicillin, and the burr that inspired Velcro, sometimes seemingly useless things are actually quite beneficial. In the case of wetlands, beyond their obvious significance to wildlife, it’s safe to say they are invaluable for ensuring a clean and abundant water supply. With rising concerns about water quality and availability, the importance of wetlands to the entire planet grows stronger every day. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 90 percent of Americans live within 10 miles of a polluted body of water. The United Nations’ Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World estimates that 20 percent of the world’s population lacks access to safe water, while 50 percent lack access to sanitation. In that same assessment, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Committee predicts that by the year 2025, water resources could become a tradable commodity in some countries, and a limiting factor in the development of others. The committee also predicts that as water scarcities increase, so too will the risk of international conflict. More than 300 major river basins and a number of major aquifers cross national boundaries where serious water problems are or soon will be evident. Ducks Unlimited is Part of the Solution People around the globe are realizing that we need to start conserving and protecting our remaining water resources immediately. The foundation for ensuring adequate water resources lies in wetland and watershed conservation and restoration, which is what DU does best. With over 64 years of experience, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland conservation organization. DU focuses on conserving habitat to ensure healthy waterfowl populations, but waterfowl and wildlife are not the only beneficiaries of DU’s work. Wetlands provide outdoor recreation such as swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, and bird-watching for millions of people around the world. Wetlands also help control flooding, recharge our groundwater supplies, and serve as filters for North America’s water resources.
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