Environmental Monitoring

Author: Li Yangfan / Liu Qingsong (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
Features: Wetlands, forests, and oceans are ranked as the three major ecosystem types globally. They are unique ecosystems formed by the interaction of water and land, characterized by seasonal or permanent waterlogging, the presence of water-loving wildlife, and other fundamental features. Wetlands are one of the most biodiverse ecological landscapes in nature and one of the most important survival environments for humans. Wetlands can be considered natural reservoirs on land, not only providing humans with abundant water resources but also playing a crucial role in flood control, drought prevention, climate regulation, soil erosion control, sedimentation and land formation, and pollution degradation. Therefore, wetlands are vividly referred to as the "liver of the Earth." Wetlands have a unique ecological structure, particularly serving as important habitats for rare waterfowl. As a result, they are also called genetic reservoirs for species and tranquil paradises for waterfowl. Moreover, wetlands have extremely high productivity, providing humans with substantial food, meat, energy, as well as various industrial raw materials and tourism resources. However, it is the inappropriate development and misuse of this last function that threatens the survival of wetlands themselves and inevitably affects the fulfillment of other functions. This book is one in the series of environmental protection knowledge books, and its publication aims to implement Comrade Jiang Zemin's spirit of "targeted wetland conservation education and publicity," helping environmental protection workers and the general public understand and protect wetlands. It can also serve as a reference for researchers and educators working on wetland-related fields.