PORTRAIT OF A RESEARCHER
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COMING TO THE AID OF URBAN WETLANDS • BY FANNY ROHRBACHER
PHOTO Elena Berd
Bogs, marshes, swamps—wetlands are some of our planet’s richest, most productive ecosystems. Thanks to the resources they contain and functions they support, wetlands provide us with a wide range of ecosystem services. In urban and suburban areas, they serve as natural catch basins by filtering and purifying rainwater. They also reduce the load on sewer systems and channel rainwater into rivers and streams, while also offering habitat for vulnerable urban flora and fauna. They are also seen as beautiful islands of coolness that are ideal places for birdwatching and recreational activities. Nevertheless, human or natural disturbances can soon threaten these sensitive ecosystems.
