February 2nd marks World Wetlands Day, and 2023's theme is “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration,” highlighting the urgent need to prioritise wetland restoration. Though they are called bogs, swamps, marshes, and a host of other unappealing names, wetlands are the most productive ecosystems in the world, and exist in every country and in every climatic zone. In a two-part special, we take a deep dive and discuss all things wetlands with Dr. Ahmad Aldrie Amir, a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow, at the Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) at UKM, who is also the coordinator of the Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network (MyMangrove). In this first episode, we discuss what constitutes a wetland, the invaluable services provided by these ecosystems, and some of the wetlands found right here in Malaysia.

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