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. 22/10/2024 12:39 PM
UN Biodiversity Conference Highlights the Urgent Need to Prioritize Wetlands in National Biodiversity Strategies
Cali, Colombia – As the UN Biodiversity Conference unfolds in Cali, a newly released assessment commissioned by Wetlands International brings attention to the critical importance of wetlands in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). The report, developed by 35 Percent Ltd, builds on the commitments made at COP15, where global leaders were urged to revise their biodiversity plans in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The findings underscore the essential role that wetlands play in supporting biodiversity and their inadequate representation in many national strategies.
Wetlands are some of the planet's most vital ecosystems, providing indispensable ecological services. These ecosystems contribute to:
Protecting and improving water quality.
Supporting habitats for a wide range of wildlife.
Storing floodwaters and mitigating the impacts of flooding.
Sustaining surface water flow during periods of drought.
These services collectively support an astounding 40 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Yet, wetlands are rapidly disappearing, with rates of degradation surpassing those of any other ecosystem. Their preservation is crucial not only for biodiversity but also for climate resilience and the well-being of human communities dependent on them.
Wetlands International’s report, titled Assessing the Inclusion of Wetlands in NBSAPs, reviews the integration of wetlands into biodiversity plans from 24 countries out of the 196 parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The report analyzed submissions from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania, focusing on how wetlands are represented in these key national documents.
The assessment revealed promising trends in the inclusion of wetlands across global biodiversity plans:
83 percent of submitted NBSAPs explicitly mention wetlands, inland waters, or freshwater ecosystems.
100 percent of submissions from Africa and Oceania included wetlands in their biodiversity strategies.
In Europe, over 90 percent of countries mentioned wetlands in their NBSAPs, reflecting the continent’s attention to freshwater ecosystems.
Wetlands were prominently featured in relation to specific targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:
71 percent of NBSAPs included explicit measures for wetland restoration, aligning with Target 2 of the KMGBF.
50 percent of the plans focused on protecting wetlands, in line with Target 3, which emphasizes the conservation of ecosystems critical to biodiversity.
However, despite these positive mentions, the report highlighted a concerning gap: many NBSAPs lack specific, measurable targets for the conservation and restoration of wetlands. The absence of such goals limits the effectiveness of national strategies in tackling wetland degradation.
The review identified that 16 countries had explicitly mentioned specific wetland types in their NBSAPs, including mangroves, rivers, lakes, and peatlands. These ecosystems were recognized as critical for achieving environmental targets, given their role in climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and sustaining local livelihoods.
Despite this, major wetland regions such as the Amazon River Basin and Hudson Bay Lowland were rarely addressed in national strategies. This oversight is particularly alarming given their global significance for both biodiversity and climate resilience.
The report urges countries to take more deliberate and concrete actions to better integrate wetlands into their biodiversity frameworks. Nations must adopt specific, measurable targets that focus on the restoration and protection of key wetland areas. Such an approach will strengthen the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and significantly enhance global ecological health.
Wetlands are not just vital for biodiversity; they provide essential services that benefit communities around the world, from flood control to supporting agriculture and fisheries. Ensuring that these ecosystems are adequately protected is critical for sustainable development.
As COP16 approaches, this assessment serves as a wake-up call for nations worldwide. The underrepresentation of wetlands in many NBSAPs, despite their critical importance, highlights the need for bolder and more focused action. Wetlands play a pivotal role in achieving global biodiversity goals, and failure to protect them could undermine efforts to safeguard biodiversity and mitigate climate change.
Governments must take this opportunity to prioritize wetland conservation in their national biodiversity strategies, ensuring that these ecosystems continue to thrive. By doing so, they will not only protect nature but also enhance the resilience of communities that depend on these vital ecosystems.
