N19 Wetland

Question 1

Wetlands

Answer 1

Wetlands are lands with soil that are permanently flooded.

Wetland habitats account for about 6% of the world’s habitats and provide resources for those who live on them.

Wetlands have been destroyed, altered, drained and removed to make way for agriculture, settlement, transport, and industrial development.

Due to global warming wetlands are under increasing pressure.

Question 2

Ramsar Convention

Answer 2

Because of the global decline of wetlands an international treaty named the Ramsar convention was established

aimed to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, recognising the importance

Question 3

Kissimmee Lake basin

Answer 3

River is located in south Central Florida as a drainage basin of 7800 km² and approximately 200 km long.

Populated settlements nearby were regularly flooded

lead to the river being channelised and transformed into a 90 km and 10 metre deep drainage channel.

Purpose was to create each channel for draining flood water from the upper Kissimmee lake basin and to protect nearby land from flooding.

However, this has led to ecological consequences, leading to loss of habitats and biodiversity.

To counter this, the Kissimmee restoration project was established in 1999, aiming to restore over 100 km² of floodplain wetlands by 2015.

Question 4

Body 1

Answer 4

Restoration of its natural hydrological processes.

Undoing past modifications such as channelisation and reinstating the meandering flow of the river.

Shown promising results for the drainage basin, led to improved habitat conditions, increased biodiversity, and enhanced flood control and water quality.

99% of land has been brought back and native species and wetland vegetation thrives.

However, the long-term success and outcomes of this project is not guaranteed.

Due to the complex process of ecosystem restoration, it is prone to uncertainty regarding how restored wetlands will respond to changes in flow patterns and water levels.

Question 5

Body 2

Answer 5

Adoption of sustainable land use practices within the drainage basin.

Promoting responsible agricultural practices, such as irrigation, soil conservation, and reduced chemical inputs.

Minimise nutrition run-off, sedimentation, and pollution, protecting the basin’s water quality and ecosystem health.

This can significantly reduce pressures on the drainage basin.

However, implementing widespread adoption of these practices can be challenging due to economic factors and regulatory enforcement.

Continued support and incentives are necessary to encourage implementation of sustainable use practices.