A Comprehensive Review of the Ecological, Economic, and Cultural Significance of Urban Wetlands and Their Susceptibility

Abstract

Wetlands are essential components of biological systems that provide several ecological services. Urban Wetland (UW) settings enhance city resilience by enhancing water purity, sequestering carbon, offering homes for animals, mitigating heat-island (HI) impacts, and offering recreational possibilities. Nonetheless, the preservation of UW environments encounters several obstacles, including diminished hydrological processes, altered water cycles resulting from barriers, pollution from waterways, habitat degradation owing to land-use changes, and biodiversity decline due to the introduction of invasive species. The article examines the theoretical framework of UW, including its ecological, economic, and cultural significance (EECS) and susceptibility. This biodiversity governs the local environment, carbon storage, fuelwood supply, fishery-related enterprises, and other ecological, social, and economic factors. Furthermore, UW provides other biological functions, such as preserving the purity of water via sedimentation and nutrient retention. Globally, wetlands face several challenges, both man-made and natural.