Ecosystem services delivered by small-scale wetlands

The benefits of small-scale wetlands have been largely overlooked, primarily because (a) such areas are considered problematic to manage, and (b) small wetlands fall outside the remit of most wetland inventories. The subsequent paucity of information prevents a comprehensive investigation of their properties and this must be addressed. Here we examine the evidence for the potential significance of small wetlands with regard to delivery of ecosystem services (ESs) and conclude that small wetlands often have a positive effect on their delivery, especially water quality, water regulation and biodiversity conservation. However these benefits can be offset by the emission of greenhouse gases. We suggest that, in future, wetlands should not be assessed on size alone, but rather in the context of both their location in the landscape and interaction with hydrological pathways. Furthermore, tools need to be developed to assess the type and efficiency of ESs delivered from all wetlands.