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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