Understanding Wetlands and Their Role in Urban Resilience
摘要
Wetlands play a significant role in maintaining ecological balance, promoting environmental conservation, and enhancing urban resilience. Rapid sprawling of urban areas across the globe has led to the degradation of the natural environment and ecosystems, especially wetlands. With the current trend of urbanization and climate change impacts, towns and cities are facing threats of flooding, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity. This chapter explores the critical role of wetlands in ecological, hydrological, environmental, and socioeconomic functions and analyzes how these wetland ecosystems contribute to the sustainability and resilience of urban environments. It aims to examine the importance of wetlands in strengthening urban resilience, particularly against climate-induced stresses like flooding, heatwaves, and water pollution of urban areas through content analysis, case studies on best practices, and current research on conservation and management of the wetlands in major cities and urban areas. This study brings into focus the need for integrating wetland conservation into urban planning, decision-making, and policy interventions for bringing urban resilience and sustainable development of cities and towns.