Global Wetland Outlook 2025
- 20 Jul 2025
In News:
The Global Wetland Outlook (GWO) 2025, released by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, highlights alarming degradation trends in global wetlands—especially in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean—with implications for climate resilience, biodiversity, and socio-economic wellbeing.
What are Wetlands?
A wetland is a land area saturated with water—either permanently or seasonally—and functions as a distinct ecosystem. Wetlands include:
- Inland: Lakes, rivers, swamps, peatlands
- Coastal: Mangroves, tidal flats, coral reefs, estuaries
- Human-made: Rice paddies, reservoirs, wastewater ponds
Key Findings:
- Produced by: Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Ramsar Convention
- Global Wetland Loss: Since 1970, the world has lost 411 million hectares of wetlands—a 22% decline in extent.
- Current loss rate: ~0.52% annually
- Regional Degradation:
- Most severe in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean
- Africa’s wetlands are deteriorating faster than they can be restored, especially in South Africa
- Drivers of degradation:
- Africa, Latin America & Caribbean: Urbanisation, industrialisation, infrastructure development
- Europe: Drought
- North America & Oceania: Invasive species
- Economic Valuation:
- Global value of wetlands: $7.98 to $39.01 trillion/year
- Africa’s wetlands (2023): $825.7 billion, vs Asia’s $10.58 trillion
- Restoration Costs vs Conservation:
- Restoration: $1,000 to $70,000 per hectare/year
- Conservation is cheaper and more effective long-term
- Policy Insight: Most wetlands in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are in poor condition, while those in high-income countries are in better health.
Africa’s Wetlands: A Deepening Crisis
- Millions depend on wetlands for food, water, disaster protection, and climate resilience.
- The Kafue Flats (Zambia) restoration example shows:
- $300,000 investment revived flooding
- Supported biodiversity and over a million people
- Boosted artisanal fisheries worth $30 million annually
- Warning from Ramsar Secretariat: Loss of wetlands is a major barrier to achieving global climate, biodiversity, food, and poverty targets.
India and Wetlands
- India has ~4.6% of its land as wetlands
- Hosts 91 Ramsar Sites – largest in South Asia and third in Asia
- Wetland types: Himalayan high-altitude lakes, Gangetic floodplains, mangroves (e.g., Sundarbans), coastal lagoons
Importance of Wetlands:
Function |
Explanation |
Biodiversity Hotspots |
Support endangered and endemic species |
Water Purification |
Trap pollutants and sediments |
Flood Regulation |
Act as natural buffers |
Carbon Sequestration |
Slow decomposition stores carbon |
Livelihoods |
Sustain agriculture, fisheries, tourism |
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- Adopted: 1971, Ramsar, Iran | Came into force: 1975
- India joined: 1982
- Goal: Conservation and wise use of wetlands globally
- Ramsar Site Criteria: Supports endangered species, ≥20,000 waterbirds, or critical fish spawning grounds
Key Framework: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
- Adopted in 2022 (COP15 to Convention on Biological Diversity)
- Dubbed “Paris Agreement for Nature”
- Targets:
- Halve invasive species spread
- Cut harmful subsidies by $500 billion/year
- 30x30 Target: Protect 30% of land + marine areas by 2030
- Restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030
Recommendations from GWO 2025
- Increase Wetland Financing:
- Incorporate wetlands in KM-GBF finance targets
- Mobilise private-public funding
- Cross-Border Collaboration: Enhance regional conservation partnerships, especially in Africa
- Value Nature in National Accounts: Recognise GDP contributions from wetlands, forests, biodiversity
- Invest in Nature-Based Solutions: Wetlands can buffer climate shocks and reduce disaster response costs