The State of the World’s Wetlands

Building a knowledge-base on wetland information and resources

Taej Mundkur and Jaime Garcia-MorenoWetlands International

Wetlands are under threat

• More than 50% of some types of wetlands have been converted in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand (MAE 2005)

• 65% of global river discharge – and the aquatic habitat supported by this water – is under moderate to high threat (Vörösmarty et al 2010)

• Mangroves are declining at a global annual rate of 0.76% (FAO 2007). More than half of global area lost in the last 20 years

• Living Planet Index for freshwater has declined 35% between 1970 and 2007 – more than marine (24%) and terrestrial (25%) biomass

Millenium Ecosystem Assessment and wetlands

• loss and degradation of inland wetlands reported in many parts of the world

• information is variable and dispersed, making assessments difficult

• Discrepancy between comprehensive estimates of global wetland area as reported in MEA (2005):

1,280 vs. 917 million hectares

+

Incomplete information

Knowledge-base for wetland protection

• To protect wetlands effectively it is important to be able to provide basic information :– Where are the wetlands– What is their ecological character– What biodiversity do they hold– What services they provide to people

directly and indirectly

Knowledge is central in WI

• Knowledge is at the heart of Wetlands International Strategic Intent. – Goal 1: Information to stakeholders and

decision-makers about the status and trends of wetlands, their biodiversity, socio-economic values and priorities for action

– Has become a cross cutting strategy supporting all of Wetlands International work

WI supports the Ramsar convention

• WI has been supporting the Ramsar Convention– with wetland inventories– with wetland methodologies

Ramsar Database

supporting data

reports and publications

graphical & spatial analyses and outputs

accessible formats, e.g. Directory

full range WWW presentation

service Bureau’s (and other’s)needs

Ultimately FOR:

Decision makers &

planners

Conservation & wise use

To effect:

WI supports the Ramsar convention

• WI has been supporting the Ramsar Convention– with wetland inventories– maintaining the RSIS – turning this into a tool for Parties and other

users

• There are several wetland types for which information has been compiled– Global information on peatlands, lakes, dams, and

major rivers– Large lakes have been well mapped– Information on several coastal wetlands has been

compiled

No need to start from scratch

…but many gaps remain

• Still, many gaps remain because wetland inventories are incomplete, inaccurate, and lack a time dimension

1991 2000

Many initiatives touch on wetlands

– Ramsar Sites Information System contains information for nearly 1900 wetlands

Many initiatives touch on wetlands

– Global freshwater biodiversity assessment has been done in Africa and continues its work

– Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) encompassing wetlands can be identified

Many initiatives touch on wetlands

– The Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory will measure 20 indicators touching on 5 different areas relevant for wetland conservation

– The Globwetland consortium will contribute to set up a pilot information system at a regional scale

Many initiatives touch on wetlands– Waterbird information

runs over 40 years back in time for some regions

…but they are not coordinated

• These and other information sources are currently disconnected and lack coordination with regards to coastal and inland water systems

New tools are being developed

• (Globwetlands)• Wetlands International has been

leading the development of new tools to connect and integrate information – Critical Sites Network Tool

engine

IWC IBAs

Red List

RamsarFlyways

WDPA

New tools - CSNT

Ramsar STRP and SOWW

• Ramsar STRP introduced a concept to produce a regularly issued “…flagship publication presenting comprehensive and objective information and analysis on the current global state of coastal and inland wetlands and their capacity to continue to deliver major benefits to people.”

Ramsar and SOWW

• This publication would allow to report on the effectiveness of implementation of Ramsar Convention

• Would facilitate feeding Ramsar information into other processes (e.g., CBD, BIP, GOB, IPBES, etc)

• Requires broad partnership links with wetland observation initiatives and processes

Synergies with others

• GEOBON is the biodiversity arm of the Global Earth Observation System of System of Systems (GEOSS).

• It already brings together many data-holding organisations interested in the conservation of water systems

• It facilitates the link with space agencies to assist monitoring of trends in ecosystems

GWOS

IUCN Red List

2020 Biodiversity Indicators

Partnership

GEO-BON

IBAsKBAs

Mediterranean Wetlands

Observatory

Living Planet Index

Ramsar Sites Information Service

Waterbird Population Estimates

Scientific literature

State of the World’s

Wetlands

Towards a global wetland information system

Others..

GWOSState of the

World’s Wetlands

Towards a “State of the World’s Wetlands”

Others..

Thank you