CRS-51 



The heritage function of wetlands has received some attention in litera- 

 ture and lore. The human experience in wetlands such as canoeing, and the 

 high recognition of habitat for endangered species convey these values. The 

 size of the wetland for these functions is usually less important than loca- 

 tion. A small but accessible and productive wetland in an urban area may have 

 a high value to many people. The value of heritage functions is subjective, 

 but presumed to increase as the resource becomes increasingly scarce, or as 

 the public grows increasingly interested in the functions unique to wetland 

 areas. 



Value of Wetlands 



Increased knowledge about wetland functions and the value of wetlands 

 to perform certain beneficial services has led to the development of several 

 evaluation techniques. A recent study prepared for the U.S. Water Resources 

 Council surveyed evaluation methods presently in use around the country. 32 / 

 The researchers found that all the methodologies addressed one or more of 

 the following wetland functions: habitat, hydrology, recreation, agricul- 

 ture/silviculture, and heritage features. Most of the evaluation techniques 

 yield qualitative, rather than quantitative, results. At least two major dif- 

 ferent points of view are identified in the various evaluation efforts — bio- 

 logical and economic. One reason for the large number of different approaches 

 and a general reliance on qualitative methods is an inability to evaluate cate- 

 gorically wetlands according to physical classification, type, or location. 

 For now, the best capability appears to be individual evaluations of a specific 

 site based on observed functional capabilities. Determining whether wetlands 



32 / Lonard, Robert I., et. al. Analyses of Methodologies for the Assess- 

 ment of Wetland Values. (final draft report). Vicksburg, U.S. Army Engineers, 

 Waterways Experiment Station, 1981. 121 p. 



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