Wetlands: a natural safeguard against disasters
February 3, 2017
Using wetlands to minimize the damage from disasters
Defined as land areas that are flooded with water, either seasonally or permanently, wetlands are a natural buffer against disasters. Along the coastline, wetlands act as a natural protective buffer. For example, they helped avoid more than $625 million in damages from Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Inland, wetlands act as a natural sponge, absorbing and storing excess rainfall and reducing flooding. During the dry season, they release the stored water, delaying the onset of droughts and reducing water shortages. When well managed, wetlands can make communities resilient enough to prepare for, cope with and bounce back from disasters even stronger than before.
For more outreach material from 2016 World Wetlands Day:
#WetlandsForOurFuture – #WorldWetlandsDay – www.worldwetlandsday.org
Wetlands: a natural safeguard against disasters, World Wetlands Day