February 10, 2020

Protecting wetlands for people and the planet

topic:	Climate Change
located:	Brazil, Austria, Hungary
editor:	Bob Koigi

In a planet that continues to be buffeted by conflicts, climate change and migration at unprecedented rates, wetlands have been the silver bullet against these calamities, providing a safe haven to global population, animals and plants.

Despite covering just about six per cent of the Earth’s land surface, these vital ecosystems ranging from fish ponds, rice paddies and saltpans have been key in slowing global heating, controlling floods and reducing pollution, earning them the moniker ‘Kidneys of the Earth.’ In fact 40 per cent of all animal and plant species live or breed in wetlands.

Yet despite the pivotal role they play in biodiversity conservation, studies show that they are disappearing three times faster than forests as human-made activities and climate change exacerbate.

A raft of legal instruments and initiatives including the Ramsar Convention and the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme have helped in protecting and reversing the loss of wetlands. The Fertö / Neusiedlersee landscape that straddle the Austrian–Hungarian border, one of the iconic examples of people living harmoniously with nature and a vital meeting point for different cultures for over eight millennia and Pantanal region in Brazil, one of the world’s largest freshwater wetland ecosystem are among global wetlands that exist to date because of the spirited efforts in protecting them.

But times are changing and their existence now face an imminent threat. As the world marks Wetlands Day this month, their place in government and global bodies’ policies need to move to top priority escorted by immediate and implementable actions if we are to protect our generation and generations to come. The kidneys of the earth are under threat and it is up to citizens of the world to save them now.

Image: Boréal/CC BY-SA 3.0

Call to Action

Follow the link to help protect the world's wetlands

Support now