Functional Assessment of Wetlands

Wetlands perform functions that deliver benefits to society, often referred to as ecosystem services. These ecosystem services include water supply, flood regulation, water purification, climate regulation, biodiversity, agriculture (e.g. grazing land), and amenity. A functional approach to wetland assessment enables a holistic view to be taken of the wide range of services wetlands can provide. The functional assessment procedures (FAPs) in this volume translate best available scientific knowledge into reasonable predictions of how component parts of wetlands function in different landscape contexts. They can be used to indicate the potential and priorities for management options in such areas as flood control, pollution reduction and biodiversity conservation.Functional assessment enables the user to predict the functioning of a wetland area without the need for comprehensive and expensive empirical research The FAPs therefore provide a methodology that can be used by both experts and non-experts to assess wetland functioning relatively rapidly. The volume includes an electronic version of the FAPs on CD which automates aspects of the assessment once the initial recording stage is completed. It is anticipated that the FAPs will be used by a range of individuals or organisations concerned with wetland management who wish to gain a better understanding of the processes, functions, services or benefits and potential of the wetlands for which they have responsibility.

"Finally we have a clearly written and well organized book that provides wetland scientists and managers with an in-depth analysis of the hydrogeomorphic unit (HGMU) approach and its application to wetland functional assessment. Maltby provides not only the background on the application of functional analysis, but gives the reader a step-by step blueprint for wetland database establishment, field work preparation, and delineation, and importantly provides key indicators of hydrologic, biogeochemical and ecological functions that can be combined into a model to evaluate ecosystem services. This volume will be extremely valuable to land use managers, geographers and wetland ecologists looking for a rapid approach to assess wetland ecosystem services on the landscape."—Professor Curtis J Richardson, Director Duke University Wetland Center