{"id":48685,"date":"2025-07-19T19:06:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T13:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=48685"},"modified":"2025-07-29T12:13:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T06:43:11","slug":"global-wetland-outlook-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/19-07-2025\/global-wetland-outlook-2025","title":{"rendered":"Global Wetland Outlook for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Biodiversity and Conservation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ramsar Convention on Wetlands<\/strong> has released the <strong>Global Wetland Outlook for 2025.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Global Wetland Outlook for 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It offers the <strong>most current global evaluation<\/strong> of the condition, trends, value and policy responses concerning wetlands.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Produced by: <\/strong>The Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention on Wetlands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eleven broad wetland types are evaluated encompassing:<\/strong> Seagrass, Kelp Forests, Coral Reefs, Estuarine Waters, Salt Marshes, Mangroves, Tidal Flats, Lakes, Rivers and Streams, Inland Marshes and Swamps, and Peatlands (Mires).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Major Findings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wetland loss continues<\/strong>: Since 1970, an estimated <strong>411 million hectares<\/strong> of wetlands have been lost worldwide, representing a<strong> 22% decline<\/strong> in global extent.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The average rate of wetland loss was<strong> -0.52% <\/strong>per annum (ranging from -1.80% to -0.01%, depending on wetland type).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wetland degradation is widespread: <\/strong>Recently, wetland declines are notable in <strong>Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa<\/strong>, however, the extent of degradation also increased in Europe, North America, and Oceania.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reasons for Degradation:<\/strong><strong>Urbanisation, industrial and infrastructure development<\/strong> are the <strong>three <\/strong>most important drivers of wetland degradation and loss across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In North America and Oceania, <strong>invasive species <\/strong>were a larger concern, and in Europe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/19-06-2025\/global-drought-outlook\"><strong>drought <\/strong><\/a>was the main cause.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High Value Resource:<\/strong> The 1,425 million ha of remaining wetlands give an estimated $7.98 trillion to $39.01 trillion benefits to people, every year.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If all remaining wetlands are effectively managed until 2050, they will provide a net present value (NPV) greater than $205.25 trillion over this time period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conservation of healthy and functioning wetlands is cheaper than restoration: <\/strong>Average costs for restoring wetlands can range from $1,000 per hectare (per annum, Int$) to over $70,000 per hectare.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The global financing gap for wetlands: <\/strong>Current estimates show that biodiversity conservation funding accounts for just 0.25% of global GDP, highlighting the significant underinvestment in nature, including wetlands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recommendations:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Financing: <\/strong>Wetlands must be incorporated into financing mechanisms like those under the KM-GBF, which aims to mobilise billions annually.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unlock a private and public mix of financing to invest in wetlands as nature-based solutions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Global Wetland Outlook 2025 calls for <strong>immediate action from policymakers, businesses, and society.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Achieving this requires strong political will, public support, and will require significant resource mobilization. There is an urgent need to boost funding for nature.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)<\/strong><br>&#8211; GBF was adopted by the <strong>COP15 <\/strong>to the <strong>Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022.<\/strong><br>&#8211; It has been promoted as a &#8220;<strong>Paris Agreement for Nature&#8221;.<\/strong><br>&#8211; The GBF contains <strong>4 global goals and 23 targets.<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>1. <strong>Among the twenty-three targets <\/strong>to be achieved by<strong> 2030 <\/strong>include halving the introduction of invasive species, and $500 billion\/year reduction in harmful subsidies.<br>2. <strong>&#8220;Target 3&#8221;<\/strong> is especially referred to as the <strong>&#8220;30X30&#8221; target.<\/strong><br><strong>&#8217;30X30&#8242; target<\/strong><br>1. Under it, delegates committed to protecting <strong>30% of land and 30% of coastal and marine areas by 2030,<\/strong> known as 30-by-30.<br>2. It also aspires to <strong>restore 30% of degraded lands and waters<\/strong> throughout the decade, up from an earlier aim of <strong>20%.<\/strong><br>3. Also, the world will strive to prevent destroying intact landscapes and areas with a lot of species, bringing those losses <strong>\u201cclose to zero by 2030\u201d.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is a Wetland?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wetlands\/\"><strong>wetland <\/strong><\/a>is an ecosystem in which the land is covered by <strong>water\u2014salt, fresh, or somewhere in between\u2014either seasonally or permanently.<\/strong> It functions as its <strong>own distinct ecosystem.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It includes water bodies <\/strong>such as lakes, rivers, underground aquifers, swamps, wet grasslands, peatlands, deltas, tidal flats, mangroves, coral reefs, and other coastal areas as well.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These wetlands can be classified into three segments such as <strong>inland wetlands, coastal wetlands, and human-made wetlands.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wetlands in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India includes high-altitude wetlands of the Himalayas, floodplains of rivers such as Ganges and Brahmaputra, lagoons and mangrove marshes on the coastline, and reefs in marine environments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India has around<strong> 4.6% <\/strong>of its land as wetlands, <strong>91 Wetlands of India<\/strong> covering are under the <strong>List of Wetlands of International Importance.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Presently, India stands<strong> first in South Asia<\/strong> and <strong>third in Asia in terms of number of designated sites.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Importance of Wetlands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Biodiversity Hotspots: <\/strong>Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, supporting a wide variety of plant and animal species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water Filtration and Purification: <\/strong>They act as natural filters, trapping and removing pollutants and sediments from water.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flood Control and Water Regulation: <\/strong>Function as natural buffers against floods by absorbing and slowing down excess water during heavy rainfall or storm events.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Carbon Sequestration: <\/strong>The waterlogged conditions in wetlands slow down the decomposition of organic matter, leading to the accumulation of carbon in the soil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Benefits: <\/strong>Wetlands support various economic activities, including fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. They provide valuable resources for local communities and contribute to the overall economy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Ramsar Convention<\/strong><br>&#8211; It is an international treaty aimed at conserving wetlands around the world. It was adopted in <strong>Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 <\/strong>and entered into force in<strong> 1975.<\/strong><br>-Countries that are parties to the convention commit to designating wetlands of international importance within their territories. These sites are referred to as <strong>Ramsar Sites.<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Criteria:&nbsp;<\/strong><br>1. supporting vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or&nbsp;<br>2. threatened ecological communities or,&nbsp;<br>3. if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds or,&nbsp;<br>4. it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning grounds, and nursery.<br>&#8211; <strong>India<\/strong> has been a party to the Convention since<strong> 1982.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/africa\/africas-wetlands-among-the-most-degraded-in-the-world-2025-global-wetland-outlook#google_vignette\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>DTE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has released the Global Wetland Outlook for 2025.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>About Global Wetland Outlook for 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It offers the most current global evaluation of the condition, trends, value and policy responses concerning wetlands.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Produced by: The Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention on Wetlands.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Eleven broad wetland types are evaluated encompassing: Seagrass, Kelp Forests, Coral Reefs, Estuarine Waters, Salt Marshes, Mangroves, Tidal Flats, Lakes, Rivers and Streams, Inland Marshes and Swamps, and Peatlands (Mires).\u00a0<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/19-07-2025\/global-wetland-outlook-2025\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48685"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49498,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48685\/revisions\/49498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}