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Guardians of global wetlands: How do 172 countries work together to protect the ecology?
Globally, wetland ecosystems are known for their unique and important ecological functions. Among their diverse biological populations, wetlands not only provide habitats for countless plants and animals, but also have an important impact on global climate stability and water resource management. According to the Ramsar Convention, as of October 2024, there are 2,521 wetlands of international importance in the world, protected by 172 countries. The protection of these areas is not only an environmental obligation, but also a moral responsibility.
“It is impossible to imagine a future for humanity without healthy wetlands.”
The Ramsar Convention was established to promote the conservation and wise use of wetland resources. The Convention was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 and has been in force since 1975. It aims to ensure national action and international cooperation in wetland conservation. Through regular meetings, participating countries are able to agree on and identify areas of importance for the protection of wetlands, particularly those that provide waterfowl habitat.
According to the Convention’s criteria, a wetland can be considered an internationally important wetland if it meets any of the following criteria:
- Contains natural wetland types that are representative, rare, or unique in a particular biogeographic region.
- Support vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
- Support populations of plants and/or animals that are essential for maintaining the biological diversity of a specific biogeographic region.
- Support plant and/or animal populations at critical stages of their life cycle, or provide refuge from adverse conditions.
"Wetlands are a treasure trove of biodiversity and are vital to protecting the future of our planet."
The Convention provides a system for classifying wetland types into marine/coastal wetlands, inland wetlands and artificial wetlands. Marine wetlands include saltwater and intertidal zones, consisting of shallow marine waters, lagoons, coral reefs, etc., while inland wetlands include inland rivers, lakes, swamps, etc. Artificial wetlands are bodies of water created by humans, such as fish farms, reservoirs and drainage channels.
These classifications not only aid in the implementation of conservation actions, but also help in studying and monitoring the health of these ecosystems. Wetlands around the world are currently facing threats from climate change, urbanization and other human activities, making their protection more urgent.
“We still need to think further about how to integrate wetland protection into modern society.”
Countries' efforts in wetland protection demonstrate the balance between protecting nature and developing the economy. For example, when formulating environmental protection policies, some countries promote conservation awareness through community participation and raise people's awareness of the value of wetlands. At the same time, these countries are also exploring sustainable agriculture and fisheries, combining them with ecological protection. This will not only protect biodiversity, but also lay a good foundation for future development.
In summary, the efforts of the Ramsar Convention and its participating countries have established a collaborative network for wetland conservation around the world, with a focus on protecting areas that are critical to the ecosystem. However, are such protective actions enough? Can it face the increasing environmental challenges? Is this a question that every country, every community and even every individual needs to ponder?
