| The world's wetlands contain approximately 771 | | | | cutting and groundwater pumping. |
| billion tons of greenhouse gases, namely carbon | | | | Rising sea levels could also change the salinity of |
| dioxide and methane which is equal to one fifth of | | | | these wetlands and in some cases inundate them |
| the entire earth's store of carbon. | | | | completely. As with so many global warming |
| If the world's wetlands are destroyed they could | | | | issues, it is virtually impossible to predict the exact |
| release this powerful carbon bomb and unleash a | | | | impact of this "carbon bomb". However what is |
| climatic catastrophe upon the planet. As if we | | | | for certain is that it is cheaper and far more |
| weren't in bad enough shape as it is. Climate | | | | viable to rehabilitate the wetlands rather than |
| change and development are destroying large | | | | trying to build artificial flood control to stem the |
| areas of wetland, and as they are drained, or built | | | | flow of more frequent and devastating storms |
| upon, their huge stores of greenhouse gases are | | | | and floods, likely in a warmer world. |
| released into the atmosphere. | | | | A more difficult issue to deal with is the northern |
| If all of the wetlands on earth released all of their | | | | tundra where billions of tons of carbon are locked |
| store of greenhouse gases, there could be a rapid | | | | up in the frozen ground. As global temperatures |
| and catastrophic rise in global temperatures. The | | | | rise this will be released, fueling more global |
| likelihood of all these gases being released is, of | | | | warming in an unending vicious circle. This release |
| course, very slim. But even a fraction would have | | | | may be unstoppable in the northern climes but |
| a significant impact. | | | | there is still time for the warmer wetlands to be |
| Wetlands include swamps, marshes, river deltas, | | | | rescued. |
| river flood plains, lagoons, mangroves and even | | | | I guess it is all down to priorities once again. |
| peat bogs and tundra. These wetlands account | | | | Wetlands have a poor public image as being a |
| for approximately 6% of the planet's land | | | | considerable waste of land which could be used |
| surface, but store 20% of it's carbon. In the past | | | | for more beneficial purposes. And yet we are |
| these wetlands have been destroyed, being | | | | much more in favour of saving the rain forest. |
| viewed as an impediment rather than an aid to | | | | Both the wetlands and rain forest need to be |
| civilization. In the past century almost 59% of | | | | preserved in equal measure, and maybe if we are |
| these wetlands have been wiped out worldwide. | | | | better educated about the environmental benefits |
| This has occurred through drainage for agriculture | | | | of the wetlands then we may yet stave off the |
| mostly, although other types of urban | | | | carbon bomb. |
| development have also contributed, such as peat | | | | |