Factors Affecting Wetland Loss: A Review

Gastón Antonio Ballut-Dajud, Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo, Gregorio Fernández-Lambert, José Luis Marín-Muñiz, María Cristina López Méndez and Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres
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Gastón Antonio Ballut-Dajud: Wetlands and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Graduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Km 1.8 Carretera a Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo: Wetlands and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Graduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Km 1.8 Carretera a Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
Gregorio Fernández-Lambert: Wetlands and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Graduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Km 1.8 Carretera a Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
José Luis Marín-Muñiz: Academy of Sustainable Regional Development, El Colegio de Veracruz, Xalapa 91000, Veracruz, Mexico
María Cristina López Méndez: Wetlands and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Graduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Km 1.8 Carretera a Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres: Wetlands and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Graduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Km 1.8 Carretera a Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-43

Abstract: Despite occupying an area no greater than 8% of the earth’s surface, natural wetland ecosystems fulfill multiple ecological functions: 1. Soil formation and stabilization support, 2. Food, water, and plant biomass supply, 3. Cultural/recreational services, landscape, and ecological tourism, 4. Climate regulation, and 5. Carbon sequestration; with the last one being its most important function. They are subject to direct and indirect incident factors that affect plant productivity and the sequestration of carbon from the soil. Thus, the objective of this review was to identify the incident factors in the loss of area and carbon sequestration in marine, coastal, and continental wetlands that have had an impact on climate change in the last 14 years, globally. The methodology consisted of conducting a literature review in international databases, analyzing a sample of 134 research studies from 37 countries, organized in tables and figures supported by descriptive statistics and content analysis. Global results indicate that agriculture (25%), urbanization (16.8%), aquaculture (10.7%), and industry (7.6%) are incident factors that promote wetlands effective loss affecting continental wetlands more than coastal and marine ones. Regarding carbon sequestration, this is reduced by vegetation loss since GHG emissions raise because the soil is exposed to sun rays, increasing surface temperature and oxidation, and raising organic matter decomposition and the eutrophication phenomenon caused by the previous incident factors that generate wastewater rich in nutrients in their different activities, thus creating biomass and plant growth imbalances, either at the foliage or root levels and altering the accumulation of organic matter and carbon. It is possible to affirm in conclusion that the most affected types of wetlands are: mangroves (25.7%), lagoons (19.11%), and marine waters (11.7%). Furthermore, it was identified that agriculture has a greater incidence in the loss of wetlands, followed by urbanization and industry in a lower percentage.

Keywords: anthropogenic activities; climate change; terrestrial ecosystems; environmental impacts; greenhouse gases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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