wetlands

Writer Annie Proulx may be best known for her works of fiction. But her latest book is a thoroughly researched and reported look at the role that wetlands play in our ecosystem.

Drought and extreme heat that scientists link to climate change are altering the UNESCO-protected marshlands. Iraq's average annual temperatures are increasing at nearly double the rate of Earth's.

Officials hope an ambitious plan to divert the Mississippi River will revitalize the wetlands that are a natural buffer against storms and floods. Opponents say the changes will upset local habitats.