How can wetlands help address the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution?
Wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. As well as being a haven for wildlife, they are home to 40% of the world’s biodiversity, filter pollution and are major carbon stores. Wetlands, which include marshes and peatlands, are the unsung heroes of the climate crisis. They store more carbon than any other ecosystem: peatlands alone store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests. Wetland ecosystems also absorb excess water and help prevent floods and droughts elsewhere. They are crucial in helping communities adapt to a changing climate.
Aquatic ecosystems, teeming with species, are also a key ally in the fight against biodiversity loss. More than 140,000 described species – including 55% of all fish – depend on freshwater habitats for their survival. These species are important to local ecosystems as sources of food and income, and for their key role in combating flooding and erosion. Yet freshwater species are disappearing faster than terrestrial or marine species. Nearly a third of freshwater biodiversity is threatened with extinction due to invasive species, pollution, habitat loss and overexploitation.
To slow the pollution crisis, we must protect and restore wetland habitats. They can improve water quality by removing pollutants from surface waters through sediment trapping, nutrient removal and detoxification. They act as buffers or sponges that can absorb, store and treat pollutants.
They have enormous potential to address the current triple crisis. Raising ambition for wetlands means raising ambition for people: their health and livelihoods. By improving wetland management, we can achieve food, water security and health benefits estimated at over $47 trillion per year.
To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, we must protect and restore wetlands. When located on coasts, wetlands sequester carbon up to 55 times faster than tropical rainforests. Wetlands contain about 12% of the global carbon stock. When we drain them, we release millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and other substances of concern, such as arsenic. Wetlands also provide local communities with greater resilience to extreme events.
Source: UN Environment Programme
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