The wetlands are considered most productive areas as far as biodiversity is concerened and they may be compared to tropical land forests or coral reefs. Earlier they were considered merely swamps and there importance related to biodiversity and ecology was not acknowledged.
Wetlands vary in their fauna and flora according to their composition of water, the quantity of water, continuous presence of water, and surroundings, besides other factors.
In general wetlands includes marshes, swamps, potholes, wet meadows, fens, ponds, sloughs etc.
A wetland may be artificial or natural. The most prominent factor that determines about wetland is soil saturation of water. A wetland much more do than to provide home to wildlife and the keep the water clean for our consumption. In fact the wetland manage water cycle naturally and act as filters for water. The places where wetlands is damaged the water composition is damaged as in case of Mancher lake in Sindh province. The water filtration process is carried out by way of root, leave, fibres of dense plants, as these parts of plants remove sediments and pollutants from slow moving stream.
Wetlands are natures sponges, when flood water overflows from Banks of rivers/streams the porous soil and plants of wetlands soak up tremendous amount of water. Whereas subsequently water slowly back in streams to prevent downstream flooding.
In times of drought wetlands are fed by ground water which released into streams to keep them flowing round the year.
For description purposes they are classified as tidal (Coastal) wetlands, and Inland or Nontidal (Riparian) types. The tidal ones are at, near or off coast while other type may be anywhere where soil-water interface is available for sufficient time. Where as estuarine wetlands are having a mixture of water that both saltish and sweet one.
The loss of wetlands of coastal areas have produced a decertified look due pollution which is concentrated due to virtual absence of water flow in river Indus down to Kotri Barrage, and hence manroves are lost and biodiversity which relates to manrove forest is more or less lost.
Wetlands are responsible to run nitrogen cycle, sulpher cycle, and they are store houses of Carbon they acts as air filters and hence maintains climate and there loss results in climatic change which leads to desertification.
Wetlands have important role in provision of food. Water, shelter, refuge to migratory birds and acts as breeding ground for a number of animal species, hence there role in economy is as positive contributors. The wetlands provide nesting to various types of animals ranging from birds to reptiles. Besides the prove to be houses for mammals which can easily live in its grasses. Damage or loss of wetlands leads to soil erosion, water pollution, climatic changes and desertification at least in adjoining regions as during absence of rains they keep soil moist in its surroundings hence crops can grow the damage of wetlands of Pakistan is also because of indiscriminate use of pesticides and other persistent organic pollutants (POPS).
These POPS are being concentrated in soil and other water bodies. Besides fertilisers and other pollutants are leading to eutrophication. This process of eutrophication is leading to formation of algal blooms in wetlands and coastal areas of Pakistan. As a result the algal blooms remains on the surface of water bodies and deprives the water under it from oxygen because these algal blooms are formed due to phosphates, nitrates and other fertilisers. Besides other pollutants from laundry and soap/detergent factories are also responsible for eutrophication.
Mancher lake in Sindh has experienced the same problem and life is lost in it leading to great economic loss. Now other wetlands like Khenjar has been facing the same problems, which are avoidable at this juncture.
The loss of wetlands is one of the reasons of loss of ecology and spreading desertification in surrounding areas. The desertification in dry lands of Pakistan is due to continuous deforestation. In fact the forest/trees hold the soil by way of their roots and hence prevents the loss of fertility. Deforested areas are unable to hold the top soil and hence the soil become vulnerable to trained away by winds or by water. Loss of fertile soil in these dry lands is a reason for desertification.
In the coastal areas of Pakistan especially in Sindh province the mangeroves is in fact desertificatidon the coastal areas and loss of biodiversity which is a great economic and aesthetic loss.
The main reason leading to loss of mangerove forest for timber wood and other purposes, the pollution of ocean is leading to choking of aerating roots (Pneumatopores) mangeroves besides decrease in the avalability of water, in river Indus is also an important factor for loss of mangroves at coastal areas, estuarine wetlands and creeks.
However it is all possible to avoid the desertification in different types of landescapes.
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