Wetlands have been considered throughout millenniums as valuable assets due to the ecosystem services they provide for humans. However, previous research has shown that the value of wetlands has declined over the last 150 years, in parallel to the growth of agriculture. Today, society has realized the value of ecosystem services, through increased knowledge and awareness.This study focuses on the area of Byringe, 20 km southwest of Strängnäs. The aim of this study was to identify changes of wetland areas, wetland classes and ecosystem services over time. This study compared four maps covering the area, between the years 1714 to 2013. The results show that the wetland areas have increased from their initial coverage of 6.5% up to 24.4% today. This 17.9% increase corresponds to 115.3 ha. A closer examination of this 300-year transformation showed variation among the wetland classes. Marshlands showed the largest increase of 44.3ha, followed by fen with 33.5ha and bog 7.6ha. In some areas fen had been converted to bog, which is a change in carbon storage and thus climate regulation. The lakes had developed into marshland, which has caused the disappearance of fish stocks, negatively affecting the generation of food supply. The increased marshland area has also resulted in increased carbon storage and provisioning services such as fiber material from plants and bioenergy production from trees. Furthermore, the recent transformation of agricultural land into fen has generated a loss in food production services such as crops. Instead, other services have appeared in terms of climate regulation, flood protection, increased protection against erosion, water purification and support of biodiversity.

This thesis examines the role of environmental non-government organizations in relation to the role and responsibility of government for wetland conservation in British Columbia. The role of a small community-based environmental organization called the Burns Bog Conservation Society in decisions about Burns Bog, a large privately-owned wetland located in the Lower Mainland, is analyzed. Drawing from a broad range of literature on environmentalism and conservation, the thesis begins with an historical account of the environmental movement, giving a broad view of environmental conservation and the role of environmental organizations. A typology of roles and analytical framework is subsequently derived from a study of environmental non-government organizations involved in managing water resources in British Columbia's Fraser River Basin. Three main roles, advocacy, supplemental and transformative, are discussed as they relate to activities prior to and during the Burns Bog Analysis, a provincially established land use study of Burns Bog. This research found that a small community-based environmental organization, through advocacy, can ensure that ecological integrity is not neglected as a result of poor planning and decision-making. The case study demonstrates that a small environmental organization can pressure governments to broaden their view of land-use and environmental issues, assuring more informed decision-making. An environmental organization can also supplement the regular roles and responsibilities of government, first by supplying a service that government is unable or unwilling to provide, and second by participating in and legitimizing consensus-based decision-making processes. The case study demonstrates how a small environmental organization can provide and review information and participate in creating options and solutions in land-use decisions. Finally, an environmental organization can influence, overtime, the fundamental restructuring of government planning and decision-making processes and transform the way society thinks and operates. The thesis concludes that environmental non-government organizations have an important role to play in ensuring the recognition and conservation of British Columbia's wetlands in government planning and decision-making processes; in informing and educating government and the public about ecological systems and their values; and in counter-balancing strong economic, political and development interests.

Wetlands are recognized for the diverse range of ecosystem services they provide. However, most economic valuations focus on the biophysical ecosystem services and disregard the cultural ecosystem services. A better understanding of the cultural ecosystem services that suburban wetlands provide supplements wetland valuations and contributes to wetland preservation and sustainable suburban development. This study, which was conducted in Sherwood Park, Alberta, explores how suburban residents use, perceive, and value suburban wetlands and draws conclusions about the cultural ecosystem services provided by suburban wetlands. Suburban wetlands have implicit existence value; they are aesthetically pleasing; and they provide recreational, spiritual, and intellectual opportunities. Suburban wetlands are venues for relaxation, stress relief, and connecting with nature. Residents have strong positive feelings toward suburban wetlands, and a strong preference for incorporating natural wetland elements into suburban developments. Incorporating natural wetlands contributes to sustainable suburban development and produces economic, social, and ecological benefits.

No description available.

No description available.

The impact of peatland restoration on Diptera assemblages was studied across multiple organizational levels (taxon, size class, trophic group) among abandoned-mined, restored and natural sites of three bogs and the environmental variables affecting those assemblages were determined. More than 22,000 individuals representing 716 species were collected using pan traps, sweeping and Malaise traps. Restored and abandoned sites were similar to each other and both distinct from natural sites as shown by small-size class, acalyptrate and trophic assemblages. However, abandoned sites showed much lower evenness and generally supported lower species richness than restored and natural sites, due to the dominance of one or two saprophagous species. The coverage of bare peat, Sphagnum mosses and ericaceous shrubs explained most of the variance in species composition. Those results suggest that restoration enhanced the recovery of high species diversity, although more than seven years are needed to recover a complete trophic structure or to enable species with low dispersal ability to recolonize to pre-disturbance levels.

The aim of this research was to investigate the possibility of using soil magnetic susceptibility to differentiate wetland soil from non0wetland soil, thereby enabling the identification of a wetland boundary. The initial methodology to test the viability of using magnetic susceptibility for wetland delineation was carried out at nine sites in three areas of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Changes in vegetation were used to identify the permanently, seasonally and temporarily wet zones at each site to provide a quick indication of the various boundaries. At least one transect was studied at every site, extending from the outer edge of the temporary zone to the water's edge. Magnetic susceptibility readings, soil samples and/or elevations were taken in each zone. It was found that the magnetic susceptibility readings could be used to differentiate between the various wetland zones but boundaries were not identified due to the reconnaissance nature of the work, a specific protocol had yet to be discovered. This methodology was a reconnaissance phase to assess the potential of using soil magnetic susceptibility. A second methodology was designed specifically to identify a wetland boundary. The wetland zones were identified using vegetation indicators from the South African field procedure for delineating wetlands. Magnetic susceptibility readings were done on transects perpendicular to the suspected boundary and a critical value was identified. A magnetic susceptibility boundary was marked according to the critical value and verified by taking readings along transects parallel to it on both sides. The boundary was then identified using South African field procedure according to soil indicates. The soil data showed a similar boundary to the magnetic susceptibility boundary but indicated a 'boundary zone' of approximately l2m in width rather than a specific line. A final methodology was planned to improve the resolution of the magnetic susceptibility boundary. A grid was laid out over a strip through the wetland including the boundary area on both sides. This was to provide accurately spaced points at which to take magnetic susceptibility readings and elevations. The critical value, a value that separates wetland from non-wetland soil, was identified and verified using soil indicators. The field procedure was more difficult to carry out than using the magnetic susceptibility sensor, yet both methods identified the same boundary with a resolution of about 3m. This initial study demonstrates the potential for using magnetic susceptibility for wetland delineation. Although the results at the final site proved the method to be successful, it was not suitable for use at all sites and the results were often difficult to interpret. Limitations include factors such as plinthic horizons close to the soil surface and shallow, rocky soils. Thus further research is required before magnetic susceptibility can be used to delineate wetlands in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

Within wetland rehabilitation projects there has been limited research that focuses on the level and nature of participation by local people, such as individuals from communal areas and landowners from private farms. The overall aim of this study was to analyze the level and nature of participation with specific reference to the holistic long term management and sustainability of wetland rehabilitation projects in Hlatikulu and Ntsikeni, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed in this study to examine the level of stakeholder participation in the projects. The Hlatikulu and Ntsikeni projects were undertaken on private land and government land (nature reserve) respectively. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) Framework was applied to analyze the level and nature of participation by different stakeholders that were involved in the selected projects. The study revealed that not all stakeholder groups participated in each and every phase of the projects. In Hlatikulu there was a moderate level of participation from the management of private land, but a limited degree of local participation from the Nsonge community. This, to some extent is attributed to the lack organization in the Nsonge community. There are no structures or authorities through which the process of local participation can be engaged. In Ntsikeni, although the process of continuous local involvement was limited to local Chiefs and some community representatives, the process appeared to be participatory in nature. The selected representatives report back in community meetings and other relevant forums, such as the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve Management Forum, which has been operating successfully for several years. Local people participated in the rehabilitation projects mainly as paid workers, and also in providing advice in the planning processes. For both sites, the results demonstrated that there is a need to enhance and harness active local participation in order to ensure the long term management and sustainability of the Hlatikulu and Ntsikeni wetlands. Within this study, the WOCAT framework was applied to provide insights to two sites, with different land tenure and land use contexts. The results of this study suggest that the WOCAT framework has a high potential to be applied across a diversity wetland rehabilitation sites within South Africa. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Little is known about the distribution and habitat suitability of yellow rails (Coturnicops noveboracensis) throughout their breeding range. Yellow rail and vegetation surveys were conducted at 80 wetlands in south-central Manitoba in 2010-2011 to evaluate the effectiveness of repeat-visit, call-broadcast night surveys for detecting this species and habitat associations of this species at the 3-km landscape, patch, and plot scales. Yellow rails were detected at 44% of the study wetlands. Yellow rail detection was imperfect (0.63 in each year), but call-broadcast increased the number of yellow rails detected. Future yellow rail survey efforts should employ call-broadcast and at least three surveys per survey point. Yellow rail presence was positively influenced by the amount of marsh/fen in the landscape and the proportion of rushes at the study wetlands. These characteristics should be considered when identifying potential yellow rail habitat in south-central Manitoba.

Aim of the research The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of the constructed wetlands of vertical filtration with various fractions of dolomite used as the filter media to remove pollutants from the wastewater under the laboratory and industrial conditions and using experimental methods and after the research to prepare the calculation methodology for the filters with dolomite chippings used as the filter media. Objectives of the research In order to reach the aim of the research it was necessary: 1. To perform the analysis of the scientific experiments on the wastewater treatment efficiency in the constructed wetlands with various materials used as the filter media, to perform the analysis of the results of the industrial experiments and to make the analysis of various calculation methodologies of the parameters of the constructed wetlands. 2. To perform the comparative experiments on the efficiency of the sand and various dolomite fractions to remove the pollutants from the wastewater under the changing hydraulic and pollution load in the laboratory model. 3. To perform the research on the pollutant removal efficiency in the industrial object. 4. To specify the calculation methodology of the parameters of the constructed wetlands. This methodology will enable to calculate the parameters of the filters with the dolomite used as the filter media. / Šio darbo tikslas – analitiniais, laboratoriniais ir eksperimentiniais metodais nustatyti organinių ir biogeninių teršalų šalinimo iš nuotekų efektyvumą vertikalios filtracijos augalų-grunto filtre su dolomito įkrova esant skirtingai frakcinei sudėčiai ir apkrovai teršalais, o taip pat atlikus tyrimus patikslinti augalų-grunto filtrų skaičiavimo metodiką, kuri leistų skaičiuoti filtrus su dolomito įkrova. Darbo uždaviniai Darbo tikslui pasiekti reikėjo: 1. Atlikti nuotekų valymo efektyvumo naudojant įvairias įkrovas mokslinių darbų, gamybinių bandymų rezultatų ir augalų-grunto filtrų skaičiavimo metodikų analizę. 2. Atlikti laboratoriniame modelyje įvairių dolomito frakcijų ir smėlio nuotekų valymo efektyvumo prie įvairių hidraulinių ir taršos apkrovų palyginamuosius bandymus. 3. Atlikti teršalų šalinimo iš nuotekų efektyvumo gamybiniame objekte tyrimus. 4. Patikslinti augalų-grunto filtrų skaičiavimo metodiką, kuri leistų skaičiuoti filtrus su dolomito įkrova.