Being part of past wetland restorations has helped me understand how essential a wetland truly is. Wetlands don’t just help humans; it helps all types of animals at the same time. While it helps purify water for humans and reduce flooding, it also supports a wide range of birds, fish, mammals and amphibians. Although many communities consider a wetland unimportant, it is nevertheless a crucial part of our daily lives. Wetlands are slowly decreasing in size across America and few people understand what a wetland does for the community. “Wetlands can be found on every continent except Antarctica” (Terry 2). Wetlands can be found everywhere, which means their reduction could lead to drastic changes in a city or community. Betsy Yankowiak, director of reserves and programs for the Little River Wetlands Project, says, “Wetlands are important for three main reasons: flood retention, water purification and biodiversity. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that one acre of wetland can hold up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater. …The infiltration process helps remove pollutants from the water molecule. Additionally, more than a third of all species on the federal endangered species list depend on wetland habitats for their survival. When rain continues to fall in a community, the job of wetlands is to contain the water and absorb it. Without this important role of wetlands, cities would be flooded and homes and ecosystems would be destroyed. “Wetland plants purify water by providing a natural filtration system that traps harmful sediments and pollutants” (Terry 13). The wetland not only contains the water, but it also filters it, so polluted water does not return to the community. "In addition to a number of plant species, a variety... middle of paper... more than 12,000 people participate in our free nature education programs" (Yankowiak). This is a great example of successful restoration as the marsh is expanding. Additionally, wetland restoration is becoming more widespread, so more and more people are coming to help a great cause. “Not all authors agree that wetlands can be designed to match natural ecosystems” (Zedler). This means that even though organizations take different steps to complete wetland restoration, it does not mean that it will always turn out to be positive. Now that there are solutions to shrinking wetlands, more people can join in and contribute to restoration. Wetlands are an important part of a community and can be helped even if they decrease in size. There are many different ways to help your local wetland. Look for community projects that allow you to contribute to local restorations.