Threatened swampland habitats

Endangered swamp habitats

Nature

Swamps are under threat from drainage for agriculture and from development, especially along the shorelines of lakes.

Background

Swamps are dominated by shrubs or trees. They may be flooded seasonally or for long periods of time. Swamps are both nutrient rich and productive. Vegetation may be composed of coniferous or deciduous forest or tall thickets.

Incidence

The loss of the unbroken naturally free flowing shallow water that moved throughout the south Florida peninsula, has disintegrated into disconnected fragments dependent on human management through, levees, canals, pumps, gates and reservoirs.

The Yala Swamp, and the Nyando and Sondu Swamps on the Kano Plains, Kenya are being drained for agriculture. It is estimated that at least 14 000 ha of the Yala Swamp can be made productive, and by 1980, 380 ha had been converted for rice production. On the Kano Plains, 900 ha had been converted for rice and sugar cane.

Counter-claim

Frankly, the concern over threatened swampland habitats is vastly overblown. Swamps are often seen as unproductive, mosquito-ridden wastelands with little value to society. With so many pressing global issues—poverty, disease, and economic instability—devoting resources to protect these soggy, inhospitable areas seems unnecessary. Human progress and development should take precedence over preserving habitats that offer minimal direct benefit to people or the economy. Swamplands simply aren’t a priority.