Wetland management and conservation of rare species

The value of wetland is now widely recognized; some legislation requires "no net loss" of wetlands, although economic incentives still exist for wetland conversion. Rare plants may be protected by law; however, wetlands are rarely managed specifically to conserve rare species. Furthermore, it is not always clear how the environment should be manipulated to increase the abundance of such species, since necessary autecological details are rarely available. Species conservation involves demographic and genetic elements, as well as ethical decisions about the merits of transplanting or importing genes through controlled pollinations. Rare species may serve as indicators of habitat quality, although this will depend on the reasons behind the species' rarity. There is a need for multiple-use management plans that incorporate species- and habitat-conservation goals and that implement overall strategies to maintain or enhance the total quantity and quality of wetlands.