March 16

Wetlands and Water Filtration

Wetlands act as nature's kidneys, filtering pollutants, excess nutrients, and sediments from water. Plants and microorganisms in wetlands break down harmful substances while roots stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Wetlands also store massive amounts of carbon - though covering just 5-8% of land, they hold about 30% of soil carbon. Losing wetlands releases this carbon and eliminates natural water treatment capacity.