CRS-34 



CHAPTER II: WETLANDS: THE STATUS OF KNOWLEDGE 



INTRODUCTION 



Wetlands have characteristics that make them different from other land- 

 forms. Because of these characteristics, certain functions are provided more 

 successfully than in other areas, functions that have considerable value. But 

 if wetland areas are altered, they can provide still different functions of 

 high value. In this conflicting set of choices, society has, in recent years, 

 decided to manage and preserve more wetland areas. 



Management of wetland areas requires knowledge about the qualities of this 

 resource, about measuring and comparing functions and values found in wetlands, 

 and about the status of these functions and values in current policy. In man- 

 aging wetland resources, scientists are the knowledge brokers, managers the 

 implementers, and policy makers the rule setters. One presumes that the rules 

 will be most logical and the management most effective if the rules are set 

 and wetlands managed using the best knowledge base. This chapter sets out 

 the current status of knowledge about wetlands and discusses the implications 

 of what is known, as well as what is not known, for wetlands management. The 

 contribution of science to wetlands management is addressed by reviewing the 

 functions and values which research has identified as associated with wetlands. 

 Forms of wetland alteration are also reviewed. 



