We must protect our wetlands and water sources
During the wet spring season, we tend to complain about the wet and muddy conditions surrounding us. But from an ecological perspective, all this excess moisture around us is beneficial in many ways.
When we are fortunate to have snow cover for a large portion of the winter, that helps to provide valuable moisture for the ground and ground vegetation in the spring. It is true that when we receive heavy rains in late winter-early spring, often much of the precipitation runs off the frozen or saturated land into waterways, but that is ok too. Just keep in mind areas of the world that are experiencing droughts on an annual basis such as parts of California in recent years.
Nova Scotia is blessed to be on the coast and impacted bigtime by the Atlantic Ocean, which usually provides plenty of moisture. However, what would happen if this regular occurring precipitation had no space to be received and stored on the landscape?
Wetlands play a very important role in filtering water for our benefit, and in fact, the environment in general. All living things depend on water for survival. Wet habitats provide homes and shelter for hundreds of species of fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. Others use them frequently for feeding, reproduction, migration stops and more. Trees and other vegetation found in the water and near the water’s edge - riparian zones - provide wildlife with necessary shade, shelter, nourishment and hiding places.
We mere mortals cannot live more than a few days without water. We utilize it to drink, cook, clean, manufacture and transport goods, farm crops, raise livestock and enjoy in a variety of recreational pursuits.
FORESTS SUSTAINING FRESH WATER
Trees and other vegetation are very important for minimizing and preventing erosion and sedimentation around our streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands because their extensive root systems hold the soil in place. Roots also counter the effects of soil compaction in that they constantly push through and aerate the soil, allowing rain and meltwater to penetrate the earth and be filtered by microorganisms before reaching the water table below.
Forest plants and soils prevent many pollutants from reaching the ground water by retaining toxins and nutrients such as mercury and phosphorus. They also affect water taste, clarity and colour and water chemistry factors such as acidity.
Wetlands play an even greater role in filtering water because they contain many more microorganisms than are found in forest soils. As well, they remove or trap sediments, harmful bacteria and excess nitrogen. Many Canadian communities and organizations are currently using constructed wetlands to cleanse wastewater and sewage.
Forests and wetlands also play a role in maintaining steady water table levels by absorbing excess run-off. As part of the water cycle, trees and other plants filter water by absorbing it from the soil, then expelling some into the air through transpiration (plant breathing). Plants use water during photosynthesis, the process of creating energy from sunlight and emit clean oxygen to the atmosphere, which animals use to process the food energy they consume. The photosynthesis process in forests involves the absorption of great amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas involved in climate change. Forests thus comprise a vast and important global carbon sink along with the critical role in the water cycle of life.