This book together with its associated CD-ROM provides environmental managers and researchers with a system for evaluating the functioning of river marginal wetlands. It guides the reader through the principles of wetland ecosystem management and provides a management tool for their effective evaluation. The book is presented in four main sections. Part one provides an introduction to wetlands including a description of their nature and diversity and outlining the threats they face. Part two explains the rationale and concepts underpinning wetland evaluation and introduces the evaluation tool itself. Part three covers the data collection and storage element of the wetland evaluation tool and provides step-by-step instructions for carrying out the evaluation itself. Part four is the functional evaluation section of the book which will enable users to evaluate the data collected and to examine the functions being performed by a particular wetland area. The emphasis is on providing a user-friendly and practical methodology for carrying out these important ecosystem evaluations. The CD-ROM provides a model for storing and analyzing the data. Functional assessment of wetlands is an absolutely essential resource for all wetland researchers and agencies concerned with their environmental health.