How important is protecting the environments ecosystem? What value is there to maintaining natural ecosystems like Oregon's wetland resources? Some would argue that the value to preserving the wetlands is to help education future generations. (The Wetland Conservancy, 2008) Regardless of what the value is or how important protecting the wetlands are to you, I believe the majority of us know that some protections are needed to help preserve the environments ecosystems. So that the future generations will be able to see the value of why we put the effort to help conserver or preserve what we have. If no protection plans were in place much of the wetlands in our local area would seize to exist. Currently about 40% of Oregon's wetlands have been depleted since the European settlements. (The Wetland Conservancy, 2008) When it comes to how we go about protecting an ecosystem such as a wetland there is preservation, conservation and natural regulation.
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Wetland 05.jpgPreservation is maintaining the existing ecosystems conditions. Conservation is protecting the changing conditions of the ecosystem due to outside influences. Whereas, natural regulation would be allowing nature to take control and we would allow what happens to happen with no interruption or assistance of any kind. Now that we have a little better understand of what preservation and conservation are let's take a look at each of them a little closer.
Preservations vs. ConservationPreservation of the wetlands in Oregon is done by not allowing population growth to take over these areas and allowing nature to remain untouched. Preservation of the areas is needed because wetlands are considered to be among the most productive ecosystems. (Jackson Bottom Preserve, 2008) Natural regulation is best seen in the preservation sites for wetlands. Since the preservation site is unchanged by man, the wetland is able to...