Overview of Wetland Management

Abstract

Wetlands are dynamic areas, open to influence from natural and human factors. In order to maintain the way that wetlands function, their biological diversity, and the benefits that they provide to human society, it is essential to understand their management requirements. Management can take many forms. Human history is littered with examples of unsustainable wetland management. However, in the latter part of the twentieth century attempts have been made to reconcile the potentially conflicting needs of a multitude of threats to wetlands including urbanization, pollution and intensive agriculture and the wider ecosystem services provided by the residual wetland areas. More sustainable wetland management techniques are slowly being introduced to reverse wetland loss and degradation and to optimize benefits for human society.