Identify+and+describe+natural+and+human+events+on+watersheds+and+wetlands.

**__Humans are Destroying Our Ecosystems__**


 * Wetlands are the perfect enviornment for many plants and also animals. There are many animals that rely on wetlands to live and survive in. Migratory birds use wetlands as a rest place on their way. Without these wetlands the birds may possibly not be bale to make it all that way with no break in the middle.Denise Reed of the University of New Orleans says, " They're really beautiful environments." She is very determined to get people to care about wetlands, not just because they are beautiful, but because they are extremely helpful to the enviornment and people just take that for granted. We need to do things to help out, not just assume it will take care of itself.
 * The world's wetlands are disappearing. In the last few hundred years, more than half the United States wetlands have vanished. During the 20th century 1.2 million acres of land were lost along the state's coast. People are doing nother to help conserve wetlands. The loss of wetlands is putting animals that rely on these wetlands to live in and even people in danger. Without wetlands there is much less fresh drinkable water. Many people also depend on fishing and shipping to survive.
 * Reed says that that main reason for these wetlands disappearance is because of development. These lands have been turned into parking lots, shopping centers, and houses.
 * Reed says using less water is something everyone can do to conserve wetlands. This keeps rivers and lakes full, which reduces the strain on wetlands.

**__Is There Anything We Can do to Help?__**


 * Human Impacts
 * subsiding or sinking land
 * draining and filling for new development
 * Lower 48 United States have lost more than half their wetlands since colonial times because of new developments. Restoring these wetlands and improving aquatuic habitat has become very important to maintaining an ecological balance. There is not much known about which tecniques work best and how restored ecosystems work compared to natural ones. If possible w are to do whatever we can to help restore the wetlands.

  **__What Will This Result In?__**


 * Unfortunately all the human activity going on has resulted in the loss of nearly half the wetlands we have. Since 1970 many laws and regulations have been made. These have not stopped the destruction but they have slowed it. One of the laws made is the Clean Water Act, which has minimized potential impacts to wetlands.
 * Experts say that if we keep destroying and restoring wetlands in the United States at this present rate we have no chance in reaching our goal to help save the wetlands.

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