Wetlands: Characteristics and Boundaries [Hardcover]

National Research Council (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0309051347 | ISBN-13: 978-0309051347 | Publication Date: August 1995

This book explores how to define wetlands. It discusses the diverse and beneficial hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands; presents criteria for identifying wetlands; and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels, in riparian areas, and in other circunstances.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

"Wetlands" has become a hot word in the current environmental debate. But what does it signify? In 1991, proposed changes in the legal definities of wetlands stirred controversy and focused attention on the scientific and economic aspects of their management.

This volume explores how to define wetlands. The committee--whose members were drawn from academia, government, business, and the environmental community--builds a rational, scientific basis for delineating wetlands in the landscape and offers recommendations for further action.

Wetlands also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels.

This comprehensive and practical volume will be of interest to environmental scientists and advocates, hydrologists, policymakers, regulators, faculty, researchers, and students of environmental studies. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Committee on Characterization of Wetlands, National Research Council --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: National Academy Press (August 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0309051347
• ISBN-13: 978-0309051347
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,890,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Ecosystems > Wetlands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still the defining word on wetlands, March 22, 2001

By 

"jcmeci" (Newark, Delaware United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wetlands: Characteristics and Boundaries (Hardcover)

As one of the authors of this book I would highly recommend it to anyone involved in Land Use decisions or Environmental Protection. The committee that authored this work travelled all over the United States and met with many of the leaders in the field of wetlands. We also agonized over language in numerous committee meetings. This book truly represents some of the best overview data on wetlands and should remain an important scientific work for many years to come.

Worth the price of purchase just to get the "real" definition of wetlands.

I have the utmost respect for all of my peers that also served on this committee and were co-authors of this important work and I hope to see their reviews here too.