Wetlands, Healthy ecosystems and biodiversity.

 


WETLANDS, HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY

Life thrives in wetlands.

• Wetlands are rich reservoirs of biodiversity – with 40% of the world’s plant and animal species depending on them. • Traditional knowledge includes ecological monitoring through signs in flora and fauna, rotational harvesting and taboos that protect certain species or areas. These culturally rooted practices have helped maintain ecological balance and resilience, ensuring that wetlands continue to thrive for both people and wildlife. • Wetland dependent species such as fish, waterbirds and turtles are in serious decline, with 25% threatened with extinction. Since 1970, 81% of inland wetland species populations and 36% of coastal and marine species have declined. • A pivotal moment for global ecosystem restoration and conservation was the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022. The agreement contained four goals and 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 across terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine ecosystems, focusing on areas important for biodiversity and ecosystem services, including wetlands. • The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aligns with the strategic goals of the Convention on Wetlands and provides ambitious targets for restoration and conservation of inland water, coastal and marine ecosystems, which apply to wetlands, including: restore at least 30% of all degraded ecosystems; conserve at least 30% of land, waters and seas in protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures; and restore, maintain and enhance nature’s contributions to people.


REGIONAL FLYWAY INITIATIVE -  The Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI) in East Asia was launched in 2021 to mobilize $3 billion in innovative and blended financing over ten years to protect, restore and manage a network of priority wetland ecosystems along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The East Asian-Australasian migratory waterbird flyway supports 50 million migratory waterbirds from over 250 different populations. However, its wetlands are threatened and 36 of the migratory waterbird species are now globally threatened. The RFI was created in partnership between the Asian Development Bank, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, and Birdlife International. The initiative is grounded in science and followed a rigorous site selection process that has identified the 147 highest priority sites for migratory birds within participating countries. Having identified these sites, the RFI has consulted with participating governments to further refine the list of sites so a minimum of 50 early projects can be developed.



“VALUING, CONSERVING, RESTORING AND FINANCING WETLANDS IS NO LONGER OPTIONAL – IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SECURING THE FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE ON EARTH.”
GLOBAL WETLAND OUTLOOK 2025

Location: 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA

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