We have now more or less completed our journey through wetland ecology. We began in Chapter 1 with definitions of wetlands, and then worked through the factors that create different types of wetlands. We have seen how major properties of wetlands like zonation, and the services they provide, are shaped by these causal factors. We have considered how to conduct research and how to restore wetlands. It is now time to conclude. We are left with only a few issues.

First, we need to put the whole topic back together, looking at the current state of wetlands and humans and their interactions. Given that we know the current situation, we can then ask what next: what are our objectives for the coming decades and even centuries? In other words, where are we now, and where do we wish to go from here? That is the focus of this last chapter. It would, however, be careless and misleading to ask these questions without knowing where we have been.

Humans have greatly changed wetlands

Our current situation has arisen out of past trends. Let us therefore begin by looking at a few selected examples of wetland changes over time. When we look at familiar examples, we are inclined to think that we already understand them. Therefore, I have also chosen examples that will be less familiar and may well provide some useful insights for the future.