Ch. 3— Wetland Values and the Importance of Wetlands to Man • 41 



cies of plants, 190 species of amphibians, and ap- 

 proximately one-third of alJ bird species are thought 

 to occur in wetlands across the United States (18, 

 22,45). A single, freshwater tidal marsh may have 

 from 20 to 50 plant species. Over 100 woody plant 

 species may inhabit bottom lands. (19). This diver- 

 sity of plant types creates, in turn, a diversity of 

 habitats for animals. Living in the Okefenokee 

 Swamp in Georgia are over 200 species of birds, 

 41 species of mammals, 54 species of amphibians 

 and reptiles, and all duck species found along the 

 Atlantic flyway. In the Bombay Hook National 

 Wildlife Refuge in Delaware, an area of 12,000 

 acres of brackish tidal marsh, over 300 bird species 

 have been recorded. Tinicum Marsh, a national 

 environmental education center outside of Phila- 

 delphia, has more than 300 plant species and over 

 250 bird species. 



In addition to the many different kinds of flora 

 and fauna, abundant populations of wildlife, espe- 

 cially waterfowl and waterbirds, make wetlands 



even more attractive as natural areas. The Merrit 

 Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, an area 

 with over 34,000 acres of freshwater and saltwater 

 marshes and swamps, has a wintering waterfowl 

 population of nearly 70,000 ducks and 120,000 

 coots. Hundreds of thousands of robins arrive at 

 the Okefenokee Swamp each year. Mass nestings 

 of wood storks — as many as 6,000 pairs — occur at 

 the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida. 



Wetlands for Recreation and 

 Education 



Wetlands provide direct enjoyment to inhabi- 

 tants, visitors, and passers-by in many ways. Rec- 

 reational activities in or around wetlands, including 

 hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, and the obser- 

 vation of wildlife are pursued by millions of peo- 

 ple and amount to billions of dollars in expendi- 

 tures each year. For example, 19 of the 25 most 

 visited National Wildlife Refuges (out of 309 refuge 



Pholo credit: US Fish ana '.Vildlife service. Lawrence S- Smith 



A Youth Conservation Corps group is instructed In marsh ecology at a National Wildlife Refuge. Environmental education 

 is a major theme in many parks and public areas established around vi/etland areas 



