Freshwater rewilding

2.2 Challenges facing wetlands

In 1971 the International Convention on Wetlands was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, pledging to protect wetlands. Despite this global recognition more than 50 years ago they continue to be extensively altered and degraded by human activities (Ramsar Convention Secretariat, n.d.).

Research indicates that 3.4 million km2 of inland wetlands - representing 21% of the entire global wetland area - have been lost since 1700. This loss, which has accelerated from the start of the twentieth century, has been concentrated in Europe, the United States, and China.

Click on each list item below to find out more about the main drivers of wetland loss:

• Drainage for agriculture

  Many wetlands have been drained to create arable land, leading to habitat loss, reduced ability to retain water, and often increased carbon dioxide and methane emissions from the soils.

• Urban development

  Wetlands have been filled in or altered to accommodate urban expansion, resulting in the loss of natural habitats.

• Pollution

  Agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and urban wastewater have polluted wetlands, impacting water quality and biodiversity.

• Climate change

  Changes in precipitation patterns, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events associated with climate change mean that some wetlands have dried out or been eroded by higher rates of rainfall.