Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
recognized and taken into account. To this end,
wetland management or stewardship plans need
to consider a wetland site in relation to its
surrounding geographic and socio-economic
context. A plan's design elements must rel ect
locally specii c conditions, incorporate the views
and knowledge of a broad range of stakehold-
ers, and be mindful of the essential role these
resources play in providing livelihoods for
dependent communities. In other words, wet-
lands must be managed not just for their eco-
system services but also their signii cant
contributions to humans.
Wetlands are dynamic and ever-changing
systems that have been altered through human
use and ecological processes. As Botkin (1995)
argued, acknowledging and understanding
the complexity of change in nature, whether
induced by humans or not, allows us to arrive
at sustainable solutions to confront modern-day
environmental problems. Over the centuries,
our knowledge and management strategies have
shifted from converting wetland ecosystems into
other land uses, to integrating conservation
practices that may ensure their sustainability. A
survey of commonly used terrestrial, hydrologi-
cal, biological, chemical and socio-economic
management practices reveals that wetlands
require multiple management techniques
-
physical, chemical, biological, and social. The
unique combination of practices implemented
at any given wetland site depends upon the
goals and objectives of management and the
characteristics of the site itself.
