Wetlands are the number one threatened ecosystem in the world today, but you can help preserve or restore wetlands through a volunteer vacation. Wetlands include regions such as floodplains, marshes, peat bogs, swamps, shallow lakes, estuaries, and coasts that are saturated or inundated by ground or surface water at least part of the time. Wetland preservation is a priority of many organizations around the world, and they can use your help.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 25, 2006 -- Wetlands 
(http://charityguide.org/volunteer/vacation/wetlands.htm) make up 6 percent of the Earth's surface and up to 43 percent of America's threatened and endangered species rely on them for their survival. Yet, wetlands are reportedly the number one threatened ecosystem in the world today.

Wetlands are regions such as floodplains, marshes, peat bogs, swamps, shallow lakes, estuaries, and coasts that are saturated or inundated by ground or surface water at least part of the time. Wetland preservation is a priority of many organizations around the world, and they can use your help.

On a volunteer vacation (http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/vacations.htm), you could help:
*Preserve critical bird and amphibian habitat at the wetlands at Lake Ammersee in Bavaria by helping with bog restoration, habitat management, and pond making in a two-week stay.

*Restore vanishing wetlands in the Chihuahua Desert of Mexico, which are home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals. This volunteer opportunity lasts for a minimum of three weeks.

*Restore the Baltic island wetlands in Estonia during a 12-day stay. You will work alongside ecologists in this birders’ paradise that is also home to elk, cranes, and rare orchids.

*Be a part of the effort to preserve the world's largest freshwater wetland at Pantanal in Brazil. Tasks may include collecting fish, aquatic plants, and water invertebrates.

The main reason wetlands are destroyed is to create agricultural land, while industrial and residential construction, mining, and oil and gas production also contribute to their demise. In the US alone, more than 120,000 acres of wetlands are destroyed every year. This loss has a devastating impact on the millions of trees, plants, birds, fish, amphibians, and insects that depend on these regions for their existence. With your help, the preservation of these precious lands can be achieved.

A directory of related, environmental protection volunteer vacations can be found at: http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/environmental-protection.htm

Charity Guide is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting flexible volunteerism by inspiring and facilitating acts of kindness. For more information about Charity Guide and opportunities to make a difference, please visit our Web site at http://CharityGuide.Org