FILLING OR DRAINING SHALLOW HABITATS
Wetlands throughout the world have been filled or drained for development or agriculture
(Brinson and Malvarez, 2002; Junk, 2002). These habitats have traditionally been
regarded as useless in their natural state, and many countries have provided subsidies to
encourage the conversion of wetlands to agricultural land. Thankfully, the valuable
ecosystem services that wetlands provide, including water purification, groundwater
recharge, and flood control, are becoming more widely appreciated (National Research
Council, 1995).