简介：Inthispaper,wereviewthecreation,evolutionandapplicationofwetlanddefinitions.VaryingwetlandsarefoundfromthetundratothetropicsandoneverycontinentexceptAntarcticaintheplanet.Wetlandshavemanydistinguishingfeatures,themostnotableofwhicharewaterpresence,uniquesoilconditions,andbiotathatareadaptedtoortolerantofsaturatedsoils.Manywetlanddefinitionshavebeendevelopedbyscientists,U.S.federalagencies,andtheRamsarConventionforbothscientificandregulatorypurposes.Wetlandsarenoteasilydefinedbutawell-conceived,science-baseddefinitionofwetlandsisimportantforscientistsandresourcemanagerstounderstandthenatureofwetlandsand/ortouseandprotectwetlands.Ascientificdefinitionisthebasisforwetlandclassification.Developinganeffectivewetlandclassificationsystemrequiresawell-conceived,science-baseddefinitionandclearlyexplicitguidanceontheappropriateuseofvariouswetlandindicatorstoverifythepresenceofwetlandsontheground.Basedonawell-acceptedwetlanddefinition,bothwetlandclassificationandinventoryfurtherprovideneededinformationandaworkingframeforwiseuseandmanagementofwetlands.