Myth vs Reality: Economic Value of Marshes

Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with the NASA Earth Observatory.

All images, illustrations, and videos courtesy of NASA except:

·       Celtic Monster illustration by John Dickson Batten

·       Phosphate mine photo courtesy of Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, Washington, North Carolina

·       Horicon Marsh photos and marsh wildlife photos courtesy of Andrea Gianopoulos

·       Sea creature illustration copyright The National Library of Israel, Shapell Family Digitization Project _and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Geography – Historic Cities Research Project

·       Assateague Island marsh photos courtesy of Lucy Albert

·       Muskrat photo courtesy of Dan Leveille

·       Peat fire photo courtesy of Guillermo Rein

·       Marsh algae photos courtesy of Andrea Gianopoulos

·       Close-up Lake Carnegie satellite image courtesy of the USGS EROS Data Center Satellite Systems Branch

·       Photos of Tigris River and drained Mesopotamian Marshes courtesy of Dr. Michelle Stevens, iraqmarshrestoration.blogspot.com

·       Photo of boatmen in an Iraqi marsh courtesy of Hassan Janali, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

 

Music courtesy of Associated Production Music

Written by Andrea Gianopoulos

Designed by Marc Lussier

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Text, Myth versus Reality. An ancient drawing of a ship at sea surrounded by monsters. A satellite photo of blue-green and brown wetlands. Myth, Marshes are smelly, poisonous wastelands with no economic value.

 

Reality, The economic value of marshes and other wetlands has been estimated to be many trillions of dollars. Marshes contribute to economies by providing rich habitat for plants and animals, supporting fisheries and recreational areas. Marshes slow and store flood waters, reducing damage to buildings and roads, and filter sediment and pollutants from water. Many cities are now building marshes to help manage and treat wastewater and rainwater runoff.