Why are wetlands important to the health of the overall environment?

Wetlands refer to the regions of land where water covers the soil for some particular time of the year or for the entire year. These comprise billabongs, lagoons, swamps, marshes, fens, mangroves, peatlands, lakes, and others. The wetlands can be artificial or natural and the water present underneath a wetland may be flowing or static, saline, fresh, or brackish.  

Wetlands are an essential part of the natural environment. They safeguard the shores from the action of waves, captivates pollutants, minimize the influences of floods, and better the quality of water. They even offer habitat for plants and animals and may comprise a wide diversity of life, encouraging animals and plants, which are not found anywhere else. Wetlands offer an important range of social, environmental, and economic services.