Wetlands, critical ecosystems that are home to a myriad of species, play a vital role in carbon sequestration—the long-term storage of carbon in plants, soils, geologic formations, and oceans. Recent reports have emphasized the urgency of addressing wetland conservation as an independent discussion topic at the upcoming biodiversity and climate change conferences. This article explores the key factors surrounding this issue, including the importance of wetlands, the threats they face, and suggested conservation efforts.
Five Targets for Wetland Conservation
The global non-profit organization, Wetlands International, has proposed five science-based conservation targets to be achieved by 2030, ahead of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal, Canada, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Egypt. These targets include maintaining undrained peatland carbon stores, restoring 10 million hectares of drained peatlands, preserving free-flowing rivers and floodplains, increasing the West African river Volta area by 10%, and identifying 50% of the 7,000 crucial sites along the flyways for favourable management.
Understanding Wetlands
Wetlands are regions where water primarily controls the environment and its associated flora and fauna. Such areas may occur where the water table is at or near the land surface or where the land is submerged in water. Essentially, wetlands are bridging zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
The Importance of Wetlands
Wetlands provide several valuable contributions to the planet and its inhabitants by serving as highly productive ecosystems that yield nearly two-thirds of the world’s fish harvest. They play vital roles in ecological cycles, sequester carbon, minimise flood impacts, reduce soil erosion, and foster biodiversity. Furthermore, wetlands support human livelihoods and diverse industries—from fishing to tourism—and carry significant cultural and spiritual value.
Threats to Wetlands
Despite their remarkable benefits, wetlands face a multitude of threats, including urbanisation, pollution, climate change, dredging, draining, introduced species, and salinization. These threats result in loss of wetland areas, disruption of hydrology, compromised water filtration capacity, and deteriorated biological diversity.
Eforts towards Wetlands Conservation
Efforts to protect and restore wetlands are carried out at both global and national levels. Globally, initiatives such as the Ramsar Convention, Montreux Record, and World Wetlands Day have been launched. At the national level, countries have implemented conservation and management rules and devised action plans for wetland preservation.
Integrated Approach to Wetland Management
To counter rapid urbanisation and population growth, comprehensive and integrated wetland management approaches need to be adopted. This involves coordination among various stakeholders, including ecologists, watershed management specialists, planners, and decision-makers. Public awareness campaigns on the importance of wetlands and continuous monitoring of their water quality are also critical components to safeguard these ecosystems from further deterioration.
With the incoming biodiversity and climate change conferences, it is crucial that unilateral dialogues on wetland conservation take centre stage—highlighting the urgency of protecting these complex, productive, and essential ecosystems.
