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 Fact Sheet 2

Convention on Wetlands

Wetlands: wise use basics on site

A wetland site can be less than a single hectare, as much as 6 million hectares, or anything in between. These are dynamic areas open to natural and human influences. Wetland managers and decision-makers all grapple with one fundamental question : How can we keep a resilient wetland ecosystem that provides for human well-being and still sustains biodiversity and many other wetland services ?

There isn’t any one-size-fits-all solution, but experience shows a range of practices that seem to work.

Good practices in wetlands planning and management

Integrate local stakeholders Create a wise use plan from the start for the site People who occupy, own, govern, Map out how the site will be used or rely on the wetlands have a in a way that ensures its viability natural interest in them. Involve for the long term. The plan might : them directly and take their Define what activities can needs into account. happen in which zones of the site and at which times. Do a wetlands inventory and impact assessment Enable hunting and fishing at natural replenishment levels. Note the extent and types of wetlands, the biodiversity present Outline a water management ( what species, how abundant, approach for how the site’s how are they threatened ), water is sourced and for how the other services they provide, groundwater is affected, taking and who relies on them. a wider, basin-oriented view. Evaluate the likely impact Include knowledge and capacity- for a range of possible uses and building for the community. activities for the site. Consider eco-tourism potential and how a visitor centre might support this. www.ramsar.org

Fact Sheet 2 .1 Name or create an authority Apply for to implement the plan designation Specify who has the power to If your site is not yet a designated implement the plan, and make sure Wetland of International Importance, all stakeholders are clear on this. consider the visibility, fundraising and tourism benefits that Ramsar Monitor the site for changes Site designation can bring. Discuss Carry out regular observation and the possibilities of designation with monitoring as laid out in the plan. your government.

Interesting Mauritania Ten years later, the area’s condition examples of wise Diawling National Park is greatly improved, and the local community is requesting WWF’s help in management Ramsar Site designating Cakaulevu as a Ramsar Site. The lower delta of the Senegal River in action was extraordinarily rich in biodiversity until the construction of two dams in Lao PDR 1986 and 1990. Mangroves and fisheries Xe Champhone Ramsar Site nearly disappeared. This Ramsar site is a mix of marshes, Ten years later, the Diawling National swamps, and woodland forest that flood Park was established. An IUCN-facilitated during the rainy season, when it becomes stakeholder study recommended an important fish spawning area and re-establishing the pre-dam flood cycle. home to the critically endangered Siamese Sluicegates and embankments for crocodile ( Crocodylus siamensis ). re-flooding were placed using the Appendix 2: Socio-Economic Field Survey Report: A Rights-based Approach to Conservation Local people in the Xe have Champhone adapted Ramsar their Site, traditional Lao PDR knowledge of local fisherman. The timing rice farming and fishing practices to and level of the re-flooding is now agreed the annual rise and fall in water level. They to meet both their needs and those also consider some parts of the site to of women who collect grass stems for be sacred. weaving. Socio-Economic Field Survey Report In 2011 the Ministry of Natural Resources ion in the Aand Rights Environment-based Approach and the to Conservat local IUCN Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, Lao PDR Fiji Country Office initiated a project to study May 2012 Cakaulevu reef system the local community’s laws and customs and to integrate them into the official The Great Sea Reef, locally known management plan for the site. as Cakaulevu, is the world’s third longest continuous barrier reef system. In 2004, a biodiversity survey conducted by WWF South Pacific confirmed the site’s international importance. The organization began working with the local communities and other stakeholders. The resulting broad-based management plan promotes the sustainable harvesting of fish while restoring areas of coastal wetland and the reef itself.

Need more detail ? Try the Ramsar Wise Use Handbooks ! 59 A series of Wise Use Handbooks, The Ramsar Convention authored by Ramsar experts, explains all of the good practices The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, touched on here in much greater commonly known as the detail. The handbooks can be Ramsar Convention, is a This Fact Sheet is made available by the downloaded free of charge from Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Statistics global intergovernmental treaty that are drawn from a variety of publications and www.ramsar.org/wise-use-wetlands. 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 2.2 Fact Sheet 3

Convention on Wetlands

Wetlands: a global disappearing act

It’s a sobering picture. Scientific estimates show that 64 % of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900. In some regions, notably Asia, the loss is even higher. Inland wetlands are disappearing at a faster pace than coastal ones, but the overall trend is clear.

1900 As a result, access to fresh water What is driving Wetland is declining for one to two1999 billion this loss ? people worldwide,extent while flood Wetland Unfortunately, wetlands are often control, carbon17% storage and extent viewed as wasteland; something traditional wetland livelihoods all 8.6% to be drained, filled and converted suffer. In parallel, the populations to other purposes. The main causes of freshwater species declined of the degradation and loss of by 76 % between 1970 and 2010 wetlands are : according to WWF’s Living Planet Index. Major changes in land use, Ramsar is a joint sponsor of the especially an increase in agriculture Wetlands Extent Index, which and grazing animals provides an indicator of the loss in Water diversion through dams, recent decades, measuring the dikes and canalization decrease in a global sampling of more than 1000 wetland sites Infrastructure development, between 1970 and 2008. Overall, particularly in river valleys and these sites shrank by an average coastal areas Total worldwide land area of 40 % over the period. Individual Air and water pollution and wetlands and regions vary excess nutrients widely, but the continuing trend is unmistakable.

WetlandsRelative extent Extent (1970 = Index1) )

1 1.0

0.9 Oceania 0.8 Oceania NorthNorth America America 0.7 AfricaAfrica

Relative extent (1970 = 0.6

0.5

0.4 AsiaAsia EuropeEurope 0.3

0.2 Year 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 08 www.ramsar.org Wetlands Extent Index as published in the CBD Technical Series No. 78 : Progress Towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets Fact Sheet 3 .1 Ex-wetlands : Drivers of US Wetland Loss where are they now ? 1998-2009 Deepwater Habitat Urban Drivers of loss can vary widely Development from country to country. In the 19 %

United States, drainage for Deepwater Rural forest-related uses such as logging Habitat Development 24 % 15 % accounted for a considerable share of wetlands loss between 1998 and 2009. Inundation caused major declines as well. Urban and rural development together accounted for just over a third of wetland losses. Silviculture 42 %

Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 1998 to 2004 and 2004 to 2009

What can Decision-makers can help slow, stop and reverse the trend in several ways : decision- Make policies that consider the ecosystem services that wetlands makers do? provide, and integrate them into land use planning. Use all remaining wetland sites wisely ; meeting human needs while sustaining biodiversity and other wetland services. Restore wetlands that have been degraded. Develop financing sources for wetlands conservation. Educate others about the benefits of wetlands.

Photo: Swiss Study Foundation

Detailed suggestions for wise management at site level can be found in Fact Sheet 2 Wetlands : wise use basics on site. Actions that individuals can take for wetlands are outlined in depth in Fact Sheet 4 Wetlands : What can I do ?

Need more detail ? Ramsar makes a wide variety of materials available for wetlands stakeholders and decision-makers. Particularly useful are the Ramsar Wise Use Handbooks, a series of booklets that provide detailed The Ramsar Convention guidance on all aspects of wetlands, The Convention on Wetlands ranging from policy-making of International Importance, and community participation to commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, is a This Fact Sheet is made available by the monitoring and wetlands site Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Statistics management. They can be global intergovernmental treaty that are drawn from a variety of publications and downloaded free of charge from provides the framework for national websites which are listed in the Reference www.ramsar.org/wise-use-wetlands. 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 3.2 Fact Sheet 4

Convention on Wetlands

Wetlands: what can I do ?

You’re convinced that wetlands provide a multitude of benefits, including filtering our water, ensuring biodiversity, protecting our coastlines, and mitigating climate change.

And you’re alarmed that 64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900, and that the remaining ones are being degraded. So what can one person actually do to help turn the tide? Seven actions Talk with the site managers to see you can take for what kind of help they could use. Is there a wetland site in your area wetlands that is not yet listed with Ramsar but perhaps should be protected ? 1 Open your eyes to the Contact a local government, wetlands near you university or NGO to see how you Look around to see what types are can help maintain its ecological in your area. Saltwater marshes, character. fens, swamps, peat and mangroves are some of the more common types. Coral reefs, lakes 2 Educate others and rivers are also considered Often, wetlands are seen as wetlands. wasteland ; something to be filled Visit a wetland near you to get in, drained, burned off or converted a deep personal impression. What to other uses. You can help others kind of vegetation and wildlife to understand the huge benefits thrive there? How the site is that wetlands bring, both globally being used? Go back at different and locally. times of year and observe how Drop some interesting facts about the surroundings change. wetlands into the conversation. If you see any illegal activities such Ramsar Fact Sheets are a great as logging in a protected site, source for these. report it to the relevant authorities. Hold an educational event so people Check the list of Ramsar Sites in your area can better understand ( www.ramsar.org/sites-countries/ how local wetlands benefit them. the-ramsar-sites ) and see if there’s a designated Wetland of International Importance in your area. If there’s one listed, you can download a kmz file to create a placemark in Google Earth, complete with information about the site. www.ramsar.org

Fact Sheet 4 .1 3 Organize a wetlands Combine an educational event clean-up with World Wetlands Day. In populated areas, wetlands often Consult the Guide for teachers and attract rubbish. organizers for loads of tips. Working in a group for an hour or two can show how much 7 Join with others to make of a clean-up can be achieved in a difference a very short time. Many organizations and networks Take pictures before and after already work for wetlands and to highlight the difference. their sustainable use. Link up with their efforts. 4 Change your consumption Here are just a few of the largest : habits Saving water, reducing harmful waste and encouraging sustainable The only global not-for-profit organization farming and fishing can all have dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. a positive effect on wetlands. http://www.wetlands.org Buy sustainably raised or caught IUCN – International Union for seafood, organic produce and meat. the Conservation of Nature The world’s oldest and largest global environ- Use reusable bags at the mental organization has more than 1,200 member grocery store. organisations around the globe, including Ramsar. Search their member database here : Take shorter showers. https://www.iucn.org/about/union/members/who_ members/members_database/ Recycle household trash, and make sure that batteries and other Birdlife International An alliance of 120-bird related organizations harmful waste do not end up in around the world. Search for partners by landfills – or in wetlands ! country here : http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/ partnership/birdlife-partners

WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature 5 Manage your own garden Aims to build a future in which people live in consciously harmony with nature. WWF works in more than 100 countries on 6 continents : Polluted water and invasive plants http://www.wwf.org pose a real threat to wetlands. Improve the water and drainage IMWI – The International Water Management Institute effects of your own garden. A non-profit, scientific research institute focusing Select native and pest-resistant on the sustainable use of water and land resources in developing countries. plants and place them in settings http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/ that suit them. WWT – Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Use as little fertilizer as possible, A UK-based conservation charity that saves wetlands around the world. and avoid toxic pesticides. http://www.wwt.org.uk/ Water thoroughly but infrequently, WLI – Wetland Link International ( WLI ) using collected rainwater. A support network for wetlands education centres that deliver engagement activities on site. http://wli.wwt.org.uk/ 6 Get involved in World Wetlands Day Monday, February 2nd, 2015 is World Wetlands Day. Support this global day of awareness : Encourage youths aged 15-24 in your area to enter the World Wetlands Day Youth Photo Contest. Photos must be taken The Ramsar Convention in a wetland location between The Convention on Wetlands 2 February and 2 March 2015 of International Importance, and uploaded to the WWD website commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, is a This Fact Sheet is made available by the (www.worldwetlandsday.org ). 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 4.2