選載: 序言 濕地 濕地是饒富自然生態價值的獨特環境,這些地區的環境與及周遭的動植物也由水所主宰和影響。濕地既有天然的,也有人工建造的;有屬永久或臨時性質。濕地裡的水體可以是靜止,有的則為流動;可以是淡水、鹹水或鹹淡水。濕地也涵輒‘鷐敿h時水深不超過6米的海水水域。 濕地可分為6大類──海洋、河口三角洲、湖泊(包括與湖泊有關連的濕地)、河濱(包括與河溪相關連的濕地)、淡水(包括位於沼澤、草澤及苔地的濕地)和人工濕地。在香港,濕地也不難找到,例如潮間泥灘、魚塘、海草床、珊瑚礁、巖岸、河流和水溪、淡水沼澤、灌溉農田和水庫等。 INTRODUCTION Wetlands Wetlands are unique and ecologically important habitats. They are areas where water is the main factor controlling the environment, together with its associated plant and animal life. Wetlands can be natural or artificial, and either permanent or temporary. Their water can be still or flowing - and it can be fresh, brackish or salty. Wetlands include areas of marine water, where the depth at low tide does not exceed 6 metres. Wetlands could be classified into 6 types that they are marine, estuarine, lacustrine (wetlands associated with lakes), riverine (wetlands along rivers and streams, palustrine (wetlands in marshes, swamps and bogs) and artificial. In Hong Kong, many different types of wetland could be found, for instance, inter-tidal mudflat, fishponds, sea-grass bed, coral reef, rocky seashore, river and stream, freshwater marsh, irrigated agriculture land, and reservoir.