Wetlands, found throughout the world, are impermanent zones found between aquatic and inland habitats. In keeping with their name, wetlands are land areas that are usually wet or often flooded. In different parts of the world, they are called wet meadows, prairie potholes, bogs, or bottomland forests.
The ecosystem of any wetland reflects the important relationships between plants and animals. Conservation efforts tend to focus on animals in these habitats, however, due to the delicate balance between plants and animals, what affects one, affects the other as well.
Wetlands Provide Many Uses
Plants are an essential part of the wetland food chain, but they serve other purposes too:
- Homes and shelter: Young creatures find protection in the grasses, along with shallow water to drink and enough food to grow to maturity. Migrating birds also find food and temporary shelter here.
- Structural stability: Plants such as wiregrass have root systems that help slow the flow of water through the wetlands. This, in turn, helps reduce erosion and allows water to soak in and refresh the supply of water to area aquifers.
- Inland protection: Coastal wetlands and barrier islands help protect man and nature further inland. In major flooding and/or hurricane winds, these areas offer a buffer that reduces the full force of nature and lessens the damage.
Environmental Protection Measures
People around the world have come to understand that protecting wetlands areas, from both human and natural forces, is a necessity. Many countries have responded to these needs by adopting environmental protection measures that require repair or remuneration for the restoration of these natural areas once a company’s need or even an industry’s need, for access is over.
For this reason, bog mats are in high demand. Bog mats are temporary ground coverings to access construction sites, load, unload and move material, and operate heavy machinery. The mats provide a stable base for these operations while holding the environmental damage to a minimum.
Who Uses Them
Made of wood, special plastics, and composites, or metal, bog mats serve as temporary roads and platforms that allow men and machines to pass through and work on previously inaccessible land such as marshes, beaches, swamps and creek beds. Industries and projects that use bog mats include:
- Pipeline construction
- Oil, gas and utility infrastructure
- Wind farms
- Civil engineering
By using bog mats, companies are able to mitigate both the damage to the environment and the cost to repair it when a project is finished. For utility plants, construction sites, oil exploration and more, bog mats provide a solution that protects both the environment and business interests.