Freshwater swamp forest

Freshwater swamp forests are found in a range of climate zones, from boreal through temperate[1] and subtropical to tropical.

[8] In freshwater swamp forests, rain and changes in the water table result in the following deposition of nutrients and alluvial soils.

Due to the nutrient-rich soils of freshwater swamp forests, wetland rice farming and oil palm plantations have become very prevalent in agriculture.

Similar impacts have been seen in tropical ecosystems where flooding during the wet or monsoon season has led to an increase in migratory species proportions and changes in community assemblages.

[19] Freshwater swamp forests are rich in biodiversity and provide habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species.

There, a rich and complex environment was reduced to a habitat made up of uniform stands of fire-resistant Melaleuca L. species thickets as a result of widespread and frequent fires.

[21] Furthermore, improper management of these ecosystems through massive logging and agricultural conversion has resulted in serious deterioration and loss of ecological and biological diversity.

[22] Many plants in freshwater swamp forests have special adaptations to cope with waterlogged soils, such as pneumatophores (aerial roots) in mangroves for oxygen exchange.

[29] Freshwater swamp forests are globally important and often designated as protected areas or Ramsar wetlands due to their ecological significance.

[30][31] Freshwater swamp forests are vulnerable to habitat destruction and degradation due to urbanization, agriculture, logging, and drainage for development.

[32] Globally, freshwater swamp forests are found in Southeast Asia, tropical Africa, and South America, with the largest areas being part of the Amazon basin.