Imagine a world where fresh drinking water is scarce, biodiversity dwindles, and entire ecosystems collapse one after the other. That’s what happens when wetlands disappear. These vibrant, dynamic, ‘sponge-like’ landscapes are often called the “kidneys of the Earth” because they filter pollutants, regulate water flow, and provide a home to thousands of species. But the sad reality is that they are vanishing – fast.
Let’s zoom in on the Everglades, for instance. This vast subtropical wetland once covering 11,000 square miles, in Florida has been reduced to half its size – mainly due to human development. According to the National Park Service in the United States, nearly 50% of the world’s wetlands have been lost since 1900. Wetlands are essential not just for plants and wildlife but also for us. Without them we would have more frequent and severe floods, our air quality would significantly decline and fishing industries that feed millions of citizens would come to a halt. Yet, wetlands they are often treated as expendable real estate.
Wetlands don’t exist in isolation; they’re connected to us through the choices and behaviours we adopt every day. Every time we flush synthetic chemicals down the drain, when we overuse pesticides and fungicides, or flush untreated wastewater, we contribute to the degradation of these fragile ecosystems. We need to look at the downstream impacts of our actions, especially on ecosystems on ecosystems that do not have the ability to ‘bounce back’ after a certain point.
From Books to Reality.
For many people, wetlands exist only in textbooks and nature documentaries. Unless you’ve waded through the knee-deep marshes or listened to the symphony of frogs and birds at dusk, it can be difficult to form a true appreciation for these environments. And here lies the problem – how can we expect future generations to protect something they’ve never connected with?
Education needs to go beyond facts and figures. We need to inspire. Children should not just learn about wetlands; they should experience them. By fostering an emotional bond with these ecosystems, we can cultivate environmental stewards who make better decisions about conservation. A child who learns about the life of a turtle or the delicate balance of a mangrove forest is more likely to think twice before using single-use plastics.
Stepping into the Everglades.
This was our exact intention with the River of Grass exhibit. Commissioned by the Frost Museum of Science in Miami, Florida, this immersive play environment transports children into the heart of the Everglades. It’s not just another exhibit; it’s a full-bodied experience.
The River of Grass exhibit is packed from floor to ceiling with interactive technology, creating a dynamic, ever-changing landscape. Here, young visitors and their families step into a world teeming with animated wildlife, fluctuating water levels, and the ebb and flow of life in a wetland. Instead of merely reading about these ecosystems, children can touch, see, and influence them in real-time – deepening their understanding of these environments.
Engineering the Flow.
One of the most impactful features of the exhibit is its hands-on water dynamics game. Using log props, children can physically alter the river’s flow, simulating how dams and stream diversions impact the wetlands. In real-time, children can observe how the downstream ecosystem reacts to their actions – whether it’s fish struggling to swim upstream, plant life wilting, or water levels fluctuating unpredictably.
It’s a powerful lesson in cause and effect. Children also get the chance to explore weather dynamics, witnessing firsthand how seasonal changes influence wetland habitats. By playing with these variables, young minds absorb the reality of the environmental balance in a way that sticks.
Climate Change and the delicate future of our wetlands
Wetland degradation isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s a human issue. As climate change accelerates, wetlands play a crucial role in buffering natural disasters like hurricanes, filtering pollutants from drinking water, and storing carbon. When we degrade them, we’re not just harming the inhabitant species – we’re increasing our vulnerability to climate change impacts, specifically rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and water shortages.
So, what can we do? Small actions matter. Reducing our use of synthetics soaps, gardening products and other cleaning agents can play a huge role.
Support local conservation initiatives. And most importantly- help future generations experience the wonder of these ecosystems, so they too will become advocates for protect them.
Wetlands aren’t just out there in the wild, they are interconnected with our lives, our choices, and our future.
