Wetlands are being lost at alarming rates

With 35% loss globally since 1970, wetlands are our most threatened ecosystem, disappearing three times faster than forests.

Land-use change is the biggest driver of degradation to inland wetlands since 1970. Agriculture, the most wide-spread form of land-use change, has damaged more than half of Wetlands of International Importance.

Climate impacts to wetlands are happening faster than anticipated. Rising sea-levels, coral bleaching and changing hydrology are all accelerating, with arctic and montane wetlands most at risk of degradation and loss.

 

Healthy wetlands are critical to meeting sustainable development goals

 Wetlands’ services for climate mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity; and human health outweigh all other terrestrial ecosystems.

 Improving management of wetlands brings health, food and water security benefits – critical to the health and livelihoods of 4 billion people globally who are reliant on wetlands’ services. The global value of wetland ecosystem services for human health, wellbeing and security is estimated to be $47.4 trillion a year. 

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Wetlands are our most effective land-based ecosystem for addressing the climate crisis

Coastal wetlands such as mangroves sequester carbon up to 55 times faster than tropical rainforests. Peatlands, which cover only 3% of the earth’s land surface, store 30% of all land-based carbon. To meet the 1.5 °C Paris Agreement climate goals, we must prevent further conversion/drainage of intact peatlands, and restore 50% of all lost peatlands before 2030.

Coral reefs as well as ‘blue-carbon’ wetlands such as mangroves, and seagrasses provide cost-effective disaster-risk reduction solutions to protect communities against storm surges. While inland ecosystems, such as peatlands and rivers absorb excess water to prevent floods and drought.

 

The purpose of the Global Wetlands Outlook is to increase understanding of the value of wetlands and provide recommendations to ensure that wetlands are conserved, wisely used and their benefits recognized and valued by all.

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