Fact Sheet 1

Convention on

Wetlands: why should I care ?

Humans often equate wetlands with wasteland ; a place to be drained, filled in, burnt off and re-purposed. In fact, scientific studies show that 64 % of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900. Measured against 1700, an estimated 87 % have been lost.

Why is this such an alarming trend ? And why are wetlands actually essential to sustainable development for the human race ? Wetlands are Wetlands guarantee everywhere our food supply Wetlands are land areas that are Humans consume 19 kg of each saturated or flooded with year on average. Most commercial either permanently or seasonally. fish depend on coastal wetlands for Inland wetlands include part of their life cycle. , , lakes, , rivers, Rice, grown in paddies, floodplains, and . is the staple diet of nearly three billion people, and accounts Coastal wetlands include saltwater for 20 % of the world’s nutritional marshes, , , intake. and even coral reefs.

Fish ponds, rice paddies, and salt pans are human-made wetlands. Wetlands purify Wetlands range in size from and filter harmful waste less than a single hectare to the from water in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, which covers an area Some of the pollutants from three times the size of Ireland. pesticides, industry and mining, including heavy metals and toxins are absorbed by wetland sediments, Wetlands ensure fresh plants and . water for all of us Almost two billion people in Asia Less than 3 % of the world’s and 380 million Europeans depend water is fresh, and most of that is on groundwater aquifers for their frozen. Yet every human requires water supply. 20-50 litres of water a day for basic drinking, cooking and cleaning. Wetlands provide our water needs and help replenish the groundwater aquifers that are an important source of for humanity. www.ramsar.org

Fact Sheet 1.1 Wetlands are nature’s Wetlands are critical shock absorbers for Peatlands and wet grasslands in Wetlands are home to more than river basins act as natural sponges, 100,000 known freshwater species absorbing rainfall, creating alone, and this number is growing wide surface pools and reducing all the time. From 1999 to 2009, floods in streams and rivers. some 257 new species of freshwater This storage capacity also helps fish were discovered in the Amazon. safeguard against drought. Wetlands are essential for many Mangroves, saltmarshes and coral amphibians and reptiles, as well as reefs all reduce the speed and for bird breeding and migration. height of storm surges. Their roots Individual wetlands often hold bind the shoreline, resist erosion endemic species; forms of life that by wind and waves, and increase are unique to one particular site resilience against climate change. such as Lake Baikal in Russia or the Rift Valley lakes of East Africa. Total world land area Wetlands store carbon Peatlands alone cover an estimated Wetlands create 3 % Peatlands 3 % of the world’s land area, but sustainable products they hold 30 % of all carbon stored and livelihoods on land. This is twice the amount stored in all the world’s forests. 61.8 million people earn their But when they are burned or living directly from fishing and drained for agriculture, they go aquaculture. Including their Carbon stored worldwide from being a carbon sink to families, more than 660 million people depend on these sectors. a carbon source. CO2 emissions from peatland fires, drainage Sustainably managed wetlands and extraction equate to 10 % of provide timber for building, 30 % all annual fossil fuel emissions. vegetable oil, medicinal plants, Peatlands stems and leaves for weaving and fodder for animals.

Source: TEEB: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands The Ramsar Convention The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, is a This Fact Sheet is made available by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Statistics global intergovernmental treaty that are drawn from a variety of publications and provides the framework for national websites which are listed in the Reference action and international cooperation Sources sheet, available for download for the conservation and wise use separately. While we strive to provide of wetlands and their resources. accurate and carefully researched information, this publication is provided It is the only global treaty to focus with no warranty of any kind. on one single ecosystem.

Fact Sheet 1.2