Wetlands are the unsung heroes of Earth’s ecosystems! 🌿💧🦆 Fun fact: Wetlands only cover about 6% of the Earth’s land surface but support 40% of all plant and animal species. Wetlands (swamps, marshes, bogs) are some of the most productive and valuable ecosystems on Earth. As nature’s powerhouses, they: 💧 Improve water quality by filtering runoff and absorbing excess nutrients. 🛡️ Act as storm buffers, protecting coastal communities by reducing flood damage and acting as a buffer against storm surges. 🐟 Provide essential food, refuge, and nursery habitat for commercially and recreationally important species. 🚣‍♂️ Offer recreational opportunities like boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife/bird watching. Small in size, wetlands make a huge difference for water, wildlife, and communities. 📷1: Sunset over a salt marsh region in Everglades National Park, the third largest national park in the lower 48 United States. 📷2: Lassiter Swamp, at Merchants Millp...