Discussions on Wetland Definition and Characterization of Wetland Hydrology

Although the function and value of wetlands in the ecosystem have been well recognized, wetlands destruction is still ongoing for various reasons. In this paper, we discussed the importance of wetland definition in wetland protection according to different definitions proposed around the world, and pointed out that the focus of wetland protection should be on protecting the transitional zone between the terrestrial and aquatic systems, and defining general water surface as wetland has negative impact on wetland protection. Finally, we discussed the hydrologic criteria in wetland delineation according to 7 criteria used in the US.