Wetlands - Characteristics and Boundaries

"Wetlands" has become a hot word in the current environmental debate. But what does it signify? In 1991, proposed changes in the legal definities of wetlands stirred controversy and focused attention on the scientific and economic aspects of their management.
This volume explores how to define wetlands. The committee--whose members were drawn from academia, government, business, and the environmental community--builds a rational, scientific basis for delineating wetlands in the landscape and offers recommendations for further action.
Wetlands also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels.
This comprehensive and practical volume will be of interest to environmental scientists and advocates, hydrologists, policymakers, regulators, faculty, researchers, and students of environmental studies.

About the author

Committee on Characterization of Wetlands, National Research Council

Summary

Explores how to define wetlands. This work also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands.

Product details

• Authors: Environment and Resources Commission on Geosciences, Commission on Geosciences Environment an, Commission on Geosciences Environment and Resources, Committee on Characterization of Wetland, Committee on Characterization of Wetlands, Division On Earth And Life Studies, National Academy Of Sciences, National Research Council
• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.09.1995
• EAN: 9780309103640
• ISBN: 978-0-309-10364-0
• No. of pages: 328
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Ecology