Current state of knowledge regarding the world’s wetlands and their future under global climate change: a synthesis

Wetlands cover at least 6 % of the Earth’s surface. They play a key role in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, harbour a large part of the world’s biodiversity, and provide multiple services to humankind. However, pressure in the form of land reclamation, intense resource exploitation, changes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aquatic sciences 2013, Vol.75 (1), p.151-167
Main Authors: Junk, Wolfgang J., An, Shuqing, Finlayson, C. M., Gopal, Brij, Květ, Jan, Mitchell, Stephen A., Mitsch, William J., Robarts, Richard D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic sciences
Biogeochemical cycles
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Carbon dioxide
Carbon sequestration
Climate change
Climate effects
Ecology
Effects of Climate Change on Wetlands
Environmental management
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Global climate
Hydrologic cycle
Hydrology
Land reclamation
Life Sciences
Marine
Marine & Freshwater Sciences
Oceanography
Organic carbon
Resource exploitation
Sea level
Sea level rise
Sustainable use
Wetlands
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Summary:Wetlands cover at least 6 % of the Earth’s surface. They play a key role in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, harbour a large part of the world’s biodiversity, and provide multiple services to humankind. However, pressure in the form of land reclamation, intense resource exploitation, changes in hydrology, and pollution threaten wetlands on all continents. Depending on the region, 30–90 % of the world’s wetlands have already been destroyed or strongly modified in many countries with no sign of abatement. Climate change scenarios predict additional stresses on wetlands, mainly because of changes in hydrology, temperature increases, and a rise in sea level. Yet, intact wetlands play a key role as buffers in the hydrological cycle and as sinks for organic carbon, counteracting the effects of the increase in atmospheric CO 2 . Eight chapters comprising this volume of Aquatic Sciences analyze the current ecological situation and the use of the wetlands in major regions of the world in the context of global climate change. This final chapter provides a synthesis of the findings and recommendations for the sustainable use and protection of these important ecosystems.
ISSN:1015-1621
1420-9055
DOI:10.1007/s00027-012-0278-z