Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
The earth is covered with many different kinds of natural areas. Some areas are cold. Some are hot and dry. Some are full of trees. These different areas are biomes. Forest biomes have many trees and plants. Many animals also live in forests. Desert biomes are very dry. Some deserts are very hot. Other deserts are very cold places. Grasslands are large flat areas full of grass. Many insects and animals depend on the grasses to live.
But there is one biome that is seriously threatened. Today’s spotlight is on wetlands.
Voice 2
Wetlands are a very special kind of area. Wetlands are a kind of aquatic, or water biome – but they are not just water. As their name suggests, wetlands are areas of wet land. Wetlands often appear around lakes, rivers or oceans. The water in wetlands is not very deep.
Voice 1
Wetlands cover only six percent of the earth’s land surface. And they are home to many endangered plants and animals. But wetlands are more than areas of wet plants and dirt. Wetlands do many important things for the natural environment.
Voice 2
As we said, wetlands are home to many animals. Many fish lay their eggs in wetlands. The baby fish grow safely among the plants. Many birds use wetlands as areas to rest as they travel across continents. Many other animals like to live in wetlands because there are fewer predators. For these animals, wetlands are an important source of food, protection and places to live.
Voice 1
Wetlands also control pollution. Many harmful chemicals can enter water systems. These chemicals can kill plants and animals. But the plants in wetlands can reduce this pollution. The wetlands stop harmful chemicals before they can wash into rivers, lakes and oceans. They act as a kind of filter. Wetlands also control the amount of good chemicals in the water. Even good chemicals can cause problems, if there is too much of them. The plants in wetlands keep the levels of these chemicals balanced.
Voice 2
But wetlands also hold onto the chemical carbon. Wetlands are home to over twenty percent [20%] of the world’s terrestrial carbon. Terrestrial carbon is carbon that is in plants, soil, and animals. Wetlands keep this carbon from entering the air and making global warming worse.
Voice 1
Wetlands help stop erosion. As water flows it carries sediment, or sand and dirt, with it. The wetlands stop this sediment and keep it from flowing downstream. The plant roots hold onto the dirt and sand to use it for food. If the wetlands do not stop this sediment, rivers and lakes could become full of dirt and sand. But the wetlands along rivers and streams also stop water from moving all the soil out of the riverbed. Wetlands keep waterways healthy.
Voice 2
Wetlands can also stop flooding. The plants in a wetland slow down flowing water. When rainwater flows cross the land it can quickly fill lakes and rivers. But wetlands take in much of this water and release it slowly. This stops flooding.
Voice 1
Wetlands are very useful to plants, animals, and people. But they are in danger. One major danger to wetlands is global warming.
Voice 2
In July of 2008, more than seven hundred [700] scientists met to try to protect wetlands from the danger of global warming. Global warming has caused many problems in the environment. Warmer temperatures are drying wetlands. And these warmer temperatures also cause less rain to fall. Wetlands, and everything living there, depend on water to survive. When wetlands become dry, they do not support life.
Voice 1
The group of scientists met to see how global warming is hurting wetlands. Paulo Teixeira helped organize the gathering. He believes that people need to better understand the problem
Voice 3
“People in many parts of the world need a wake–up call to see the value of wetlands – the environmental, social, and economic value.”
Voice 2
Research shows that about sixty [60] percent of the world’s wetlands have already been destroyed. The scientists at the conference wrote a document for leaders around the world. It said that the world’s knowledge of wetlands is unacceptable. The scientists asked one hundred and fifty eight [158] countries to protect the wetlands before it is too late.
Voice 1
In the United States, people began work to protect wetlands in the 1970’s through the Clean Water Act. Part of this law helped to protect wetlands. But many wetlands were privately owned. That is, the government did not own these areas. For many years, the government paid the owners of those wetlands to keep them safe. Farmers would promise not to grow crops in the wetland areas. Many other countries made similar laws and agreements.
Voice 2
But today, some farmers are thinking about stopping this agreement. The wetlands are in danger of becoming farm land. Food prices have increased in recent years. Farmers need to grow more crops to help with this problem. But sometimes, there is not enough land to grow the crops. Some farmers are considering drying the wetlands to create more farmland. Many people are working to encourage farmers to continue to protect the land – but it is unclear if they will succeed.
Voice 1
Wetlands International is a group working to protect wetland areas all over the world. One of their largest projects is happening in Indonesia.
Voice 2
On the island of Kalimantan there is a large swamp forest, a kind of wetland. But some people in this area have been damaging the swamp forest. Farmers try to extend farm land by draining this area. And loggers have cut down many trees there. The damage to the swamp forest has caused many problems. The dry land now catches fire. Carbon is released into the air. The damage has also affected the people living in the area. The smoke from the fires affects their health. And the swamp forest is no longer a good source of food or income.
Voice 1
Wetlands International is working with the people in Central Kalimantan. It helps them make money in less damaging ways. And it helps the people to recreate the wetlands, and to see the amazing value of these natural places. The communities have come together to protect their own environment. Hopefully, people around the world will agree with these Indonesian farmers – and protect the wetlands in their own communities. If people do not, the wetlands could disappear.
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