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WETLAND LOSS WORLDWIDE


source: www.panda.org/downloads/
freshwater/wetlandsbrochurefinal.pdf

www.ramsar.org/about_
wetland_loss.htm

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wetland loss

The world's wetlands are shrinking: 1/2 of them have been destroyed in the past 100 years alone as a result of human population increase and development…

Conversion of swamps, marshes, lakes and floodplains for agriculture, housing and industrial schemes has led to dramatic alterations of landscapes and ecosystem functioning. Examples of this trend can be found all around the world:
  • the USA has already lost some 54% = 87 million ha of its original wetlands: 87% to agricultural development and 8% to urban development;


  • in the late 19th century, drainage of the Pinsk marshes in Russia destroyed 1.5 million ha of wetlands;


  • Italy has lost about 94% of its wetlands, while Ireland has lost an equivalent amount of its peat bogs;


  • in the period 1900 to 1993, France have lost 67% of its wetlands;


  • 1950–1985: The Netherlands has lost 55% of wetlands in only 35 years!
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