WETLANDS

Wetlands are places where water sits long enough, and often enough, to alter the soil, vegetation and animal communities that live there. They include permanently or intermittently wet areas, shallow water, and land water margins that support a natural ecosystem of plants and animals adapted to wet conditions.

They are diverse ecosystems, with the different types determined by their water ­amount, depth, permanence, temperature, the chemicals found there and its source, whether groundwater, surface water, rainwater or a combination.

- wetlands trust