A wetland is an area of land that is covered by fresh or saltwater part or most of a year. From creeks to rivers, salt marshes and bayous, wetlands connect every watershed to the ocean. Some wetlands are landlocked, but many stretch along much of the world’s coastlines, connecting rivers, lakes and oceans. They are diverse habitats that are essential to ecosystems, environmental health and sustainability worldwide. All communities (plant, animal and human) depend on the various services wetlands provide, including: food, shelter, flood control, the filtering of sediment and pollution, rest stops for migrating birds and nurseries for diverse aquatic and land species. They are an essential part of a healthy biosphere that will require sustained effort to reclaim, preserve and protect for future generations.