Key Messages

Panel general notes/comments:

  • Bullet 1: 1280 needs putting into context (Kirsten); is 1280 (=0.8% of land surface) a “significant proportion (Walt) – if area know to be underestimate, is it worth using?
  • Add Key message on health implications, incl as a driver of wetland loss (e.g. malaria and drainage)
  • Add key message re Tourism (Delmar)
  • Bullet 6: delete Constanza figure from here – replace with stronger story on value of unconverted vs converted (Walt)
  • Add more powerful bullet on dire current state and trends of wetlands (Schei)
  • Bullet 6 2nd sentence would be better linked to bullet 3 statement (Cooper)
  • New first bullet could be strongly: “Significance of wetlands is out of all proportion with their small overall area because of the large range and high value of the services they provide” Could also link statement to that there is a double whammy of their being rapidly lost and degraded, yet the demand for their services is increasing. (Cooper)
  • Causes of wetland loss needs clearer bullet – need to add the drivers plus major cause of damage – but in future will need more wetlands to deliver the increased demand for services (Cooper)
  • Add key message to highlight high relative rates of extinction (?and population declines) of wetland species (Mario)
  • Add key message on wetland restoration – how significant and possible (Although often very costly) (Delmar) – NB even when technically feasible can be prevented by strong vested interests (Mario)
  • Using Constanza figure: “pity the traditional economists have not given attention to refining the figure – but still regarded as unreliable, so can’t use it.” (Walt)
  • Amend last bullet at start of second line to add “adequate consideration given to trade-offs between wetland ….”

[Note: grey highlighted text and strikethrough text below is amendments from David Coates]

Wetlands encompass a significant proportion of the area of the planet; the global estimate is 1280 million hectares and is recognized as an under-estimate.

A cross-sectoral focus is urgently needed from policy- and decision-makers that emphasizes securing wetland ecosystem services in the context of achieving sustainable development and improving human well-being.

Management of wetlands and water resources is most successfully addressed through integrated management at the river (or lake or aquifer) basin scale that is linked to coastal zone management for coastal and near-shore wetlands.

[move to top of list. DC] Wetlands deliver a wide range of critical and important services (e.g. fish and fiber, water supply, water purification, coastal protection, recreational opportunities, and increasingly, tourism) vital for human well-being. Maintaining the natural functioning of wetlands will enable them to continue to deliver these services.

The principal supply of renewable fresh water for humans comes from an array of wetland types, including lakes, rivers, swamps and groundwater aquifers. Some 1.5 billion people are dependent on groundwater as a source of drinking water.

The services delivered by wetlands have been arguably valued at US$14 trillion annually. Economic valuation now provides a powerful tool for placing wetlands on the agenda of conservation and development decision-makers.

The degradation and loss of wetlands is more rapid than that for other ecosystems. The status of freshwater dependent species (in both inland and coastal areas) is deteriorating faster than those of other ecosystems.Similarly, the status of both freshwater and coastal species is deteriorating faster than those of other ecosystems. Wetland-dependent biodiversity in many parts of the world is in continuing and accelerating decline.

Wetland loss and degradation has primarily been driven by land conversion and infrastructure development, land conversion, water abstraction, eutrophication and pollution and over-exploitation. Losses tend to be more rapid where economic development is accelerating due to population growth and/or demands for improved economic welfare.populations are increasing most, leading to demands for increased economic development.

There are a number of broad, interrelated economic reasons, including perverse subsidies, why wetlands continue to be lost and degraded. These include perverse incentives for both land and water use.

Socio-political drivers have influenced many decision-making processes with dire consequences for wetlands: lack of both transparency and participation of all stakeholders, and sector-based approaches have led to the inefficient and inequitable use of wetlands. DC

Global climate change is expected to further exacerbate the loss and degradation of wetland biodiversity including species that cannot relocate and migratory species that rely on a number of wetlands at different stages of their life cycle.

[move to top of list. DC] The projected continued loss and degradation of wetlands will result in further reduction in human well-being, especially for poorer people in less developed countries where technological solutions are not as readily available.

The priority when making choices about wetland management decisions is to ensure that full consideration is given to trade-offs between wetland ecosystemservices of the wetland are maintained. This can be achieved by application of the wise use principle of the Ramsar Convention.