The Superpower of Wetlands

While environmentalists venerate them, most humans are unaware of the benefits provided by the wetlands that cover the Earth. As they are unsuitable for human activities, mankind wanted to quickly transform them to make them suitable for agriculture and urban development. Unfortunately, today, scientists estimate that 64% of the planet’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900, and the consequences are not limited to this fact¹. Between 1975 and 2015, 76% of freshwater plant and animal populations became extinct. Humankind has a duty to raise its awareness of this reality¹. Did you know that these natural environments are disappearing 3 times faster than forests²?

In 2017, the government of Quebec took the initiative by passing “An Act respecting the conservation of wetlands and bodies of water^{” 3}. This initiative was intended to be a starting point for the protection, the restoration and the sustainable management of these zones. Today, these environments occupy around 11% of Quebec’s territory, but, as elsewhere in the world, most of them remain under threat⁴.

Before taking steps to protect this wealth, we must first learn to recognize and understand it. There are three key elements that help define a wetland: hydrology (the degree of flooding), vegetation and soil type⁵. An important aspect to remember about these areas is their evolution over time. These zones are permanently or temporarily immersed or soaked in water. As a result, their surface area, degree of humidity and plant composition vary according to a number of external factors, such as the seasons, weather conditions, and climate⁵. Wetlands are divided into four broad categories: ponds, marshes, swamps and peatlands. Each of them has distinct characteristics that give it specific ecological functions.

Ponds	Swamps
Marshes	Peatlands

Now, let’s look at the ecological roles of these areas:

Water-level Regulation

Wetlands act like giant sponges. They absorb water during periods of intense precipitation (rain or snowmelt) and gradually redistribute it during dry spells. This retention capacity helps to control floods and prevents erosion⁶. Moreover, some soils are particularly effective in replenishing underground aquifers⁷.

Water Biofiltration

Nicknamed nature’s kidneys, wetlands naturally filter the water passing through them thanks to their high plant density. Plant species that live in these areas, such as cattails, contribute to the elimination of phosphate and other nutrients, thus slowing down the proliferation of harmful algae and aquatic weeds⁶. In addition, pollutants contained in sediments, once deposited on the ground, are degraded by the microbial activity that is naturally present in these environments⁸.

 Rich in Biodiversity

Wetlands are home to many animal, plant and microbiological species. In fact, as they can shelter and feed there, 40% of the world’s species live or reproduce in wetlands⁷! Without the existence of these lands, many living organisms would be at risk of extinction.

Carbon Sequestration

Wetlands play an important role in the fight against climate change. In addition to performing the essential functions mentioned above, they are among the most effective ecosystems for capturing and storing carbon. Peatlands, in particular, stand out in this respect. This type of wetland occupies almost 3% of our planet’s land but stores around 30% of all land-based carbon⁹!

Water Cooling

Wetlands also help to cool down the water that flows through them. It is their abundant vegetation that helps lower water temperatures. This, in turn, helps reduce the risk of algal blooms⁷.

In summary, although these areas may seem useless and of little value at first glance, they are, on the contrary, a precious ecological resource whose protection should be a priority.

1. Ramsar – Wetlands for our Future: Act now to prevent, stop, and reverse wetland loss – 02 February 2015
2. Nature Action Québec – Les rôles essentiels des milieux humides – 24 april 2024 (in French only)
3. Gouvernement du Québec –National Assembly – An Act respecting the conservation of wetlands and bodies of water – 2017
4. Polytechnique de Montréal – Formation Eaux, villes et changements climatiques – 2025 (in French only)
5. Données ouvertes du Québec – Définition d’un milieu humide – May 2019 (in French only)
6. Canadian Wildlife Federation – Wetlands
7. Rappel – Milieux humides – 2025 (in French only)
8. Government of Canada – Wetlands: learning to love our swampy places – 26 November 2022
9. Ramsar – Wetlands and Carbon Capture