Wetlands: Classification, Significance and Management

A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is inundated by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. Wetlands are very important and valuable components of the ecosystem. They serve as habitat for man and animal, source of food, shelter and other ecosystem services which provide many societal benefits: water quality improvement; flood storage; shoreline erosion control; economically beneficial natural products for human use; and opportunities for recreation, education, and research. There are different wetlands in the world and Nigeria owns one of the internationally recognized wetlands in the world, the first wetland recorded as a Ramsar site. The main wetland types are swamp, marsh, bog, fen; sub-type includes mangrove forest, carr, pocosin, floodplains., mire, vernal pool, sink, and many others. There are different challenges facing wetlands globally, some of which are pollution, excessive agricultural activities, industrialization and urbanization.