Wetlands are lands that have been dominantly filled and soaked with water. Due to the saturation, there has been a different type of soil development which affects the plant and animal life living on its surface.

There are different types of wetlands around the world, especially from the tundra to the tropics ¹. They are actually found on every continent except Antarctica. The many different factors of an environment will create a variety of wetlands. These factors include: types of soil, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and others ¹.

Its role in an Ecosystem is to act like a sponge to prevent flooding. By doing so, they are able to keep river and ocean levels normal and also filter & purify the surface water ². Nature has given the wetlands the ability to act to preserve itself and its surroundings. For instance, when it rains or storms there is an increase of water and the land is able to soak in the incoming amounts. When it becomes dry and the water levels are low, the wetlands are able to release its retained water slowly.

They also play an important role for the animals that live on or around them. The vegetation that it releases into the waters help feed the fish and other marine life, and also makes a perfect habitat for other animals, such as birds, that can migrate there for reproduction.

Wetlands play a huge role in the ecosystem, and have actually been compared to Mother Nature's kidneys. Kidneys are used to maintain, regulate, balance, and filter fluids within the body. Wetlands act just as they do in order to control water flow and cleanse ² the ecosystem.

A dune is a long narrow crest of sand that has been formed by strong winds. They are usually found near bodies of water, deserts, and wetlands. These dunes are considered to be a line of defense against storm damage.

In Lavallette, the dunes are very important in protecting the town's properties. There are three components that form the dune system of Lavallette. The first is the east dune which extends westward from the Bern to the Boardwalk. The second is the west dune that slopes more into the bay area. Finally, the last component is the Boardwalk.

The east dune runs along the north and south direction for the length of the town. The west dune slopes more gently from the boardwalk westward to the bay.

It is highly important to know the significance of these dunes. If the west dune was ever left open by man-made access paths, erosion from storms or removal of sand, then the town and all of its residence would be unprotected from the serious threat of the ocean waves.

The boardwalk has the third dune below it and runs for 1.2 miles. Lavallette makes effort to collect the excess sand that accumulates regularly on the boardwalk and export it to the western side of the east dune. The importance of the dunes is critical to the town's protection. The people of Lavallette must stay off the dunes along with animals. The affect of foot traffic on the east dune may cause serious damage.

To learn more information regarding Lavallette's efforts in preserving the dunes, please visit:

To learn more about these miracles of nature, visit the Wetlands Institute website. Here you'll be able to learn about wetland preservation in a fun and educational environment.