Wetlands are critical ecosystems on this fragile planet we call earth. Many of the terrestrial animals on earth are born and nursed in wetland areas. They also provide safety to these young creatures until they are old enough to fend for themselves. At one point, not too long ago, we viewed wetlands as swamps that needed to be filled in order to control pesky mosquitoes or to make land habitable for use by human beings. We now know that these wetland environments are absolutely critical to life on this planet. Many of the migratory birds that inhabit the Pantanal call the United States home for a part of their lives. If the Pantanal were to disappear so would many of the birds that visit the United States. We cannot view the Pantanal as unimportant because it is so far away. All life on earth is linked together. When one area dies off it impacts areas connected to it and they begin to fail.
Listen (4MB) to Brazilian researcher Ellen Wang explain why the Pantanal is so important.
Listen (2MB) to why Dr. Helen Waldemarin, researcher of Brazil’s endangered giant river otters, thinks the Pantanal needs to be saved.
Wetlands are important because they…
...control the flow of water, preventing floods and recharging groundwater. ...stabilize shorelines, controls erosion and climate in surrounding areas. ...purify water through sedimentation and filtering.
Help Save the Pantanal - What can you do!?
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