What is "wetland mitigation"?

Wetland mitigation refers to the process of compensating for the loss of wetland areas by restoring, enhancing, or creating new wetlands. This is an important practice in environmental conservation as wetlands provide numerous ecological benefits, such as water filtration, flood control, and habitat for various species. When development or other activities lead to the destruction of wetlands, mitigation efforts aim to ensure that these crucial ecological functions are not lost, either by restoring degraded wetlands or establishing new ones.

In this context, building artificial lakes, planting trees in urban areas, and improving land drainage systems do not directly address the specific loss of wetland habitats or their associated ecosystem functions. While these actions may be beneficial in other respects, they do not fulfill the aim of wetland mitigation, which is focused exclusively on maintaining and enhancing wetland ecosystems.