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A global report finds wetlands declining rapidly, with 22% lost since 1970. Photo credit: Ground Report
Wetlands are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem on Earth, a new global report warns, with serious consequences for people, biodiversity, and climate stability.
The Global Wetland Outlook 2025, released by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention, shows that 22 percent of the world’s wetlands have vanished since 1970. That includes over 400 million hectares, an area larger than India. The loss continues at a rate of 0.52 percent each year.
Wetlands Disappearing at Alarming Rate
“These ecosystems are fundamental to the water cycle, to our global response to climate change, and to the wellbeing of billions,” said Hugh Robertson, chair of the Ramsar Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel.
Despite covering just six percent of the planet’s surface, wetlands provide over 7.5 percent of global GDP in ecosystem services. These include clean water, flood protection, carbon storage, food production, and jobs. The report estimates the value of these services at up to $39 trillion annually.
The report finds that wetlands are in poor shape in nearly every region, but the damage is most severe in low-income parts of the world. Degradation is especially widespread in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where population growth, urban expansion, and weak regulations increase the pressure.
In contrast, countries in Europe, North America, and Oceania report more improvements. Invasive species top the list of threats in these wealthier regions, while land-use change, infrastructure, and pollution are the major drivers elsewhere.
The condition of wetlands also closely tracks economic development. “More wetlands are reported as being in poor condition in low-income and lower-middle-income countries,” the report says. In wealthier nations, more wetlands are in good shape than in poor condition.
Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, called for a shift in mindset and funding. “We must value wetlands and increase investments towards their restoration, since losing them comes at a heavy cost to planetary wellbeing and livelihoods,” she said during the report’s launch in Nairobi on July 15.
Call to Invest in Wetland
Despite the damage, the report offers a clear path forward. It highlights examples of local restoration efforts that have created jobs, improved biodiversity, and strengthened economies. In Zambia’s Kafue Flats, a $300,000 project helped revive natural flooding cycles, boosting fish stocks and supporting over a million people. That investment now supports artisanal fisheries worth $30 million a year.
“Investing in wetlands creates jobs, builds resilience, and enhances food and water security,” said Anthony Nyong, director of climate change and green growth at the African Development Bank. “At the macroeconomic level, degrading wetlands weakens our economies. It increases vulnerability to climate shocks, reduces productivity, and drives up public spending on disaster response.”
While restoration is possible, it is often more costly than prevention. The report urges governments to prioritise the protection of intact wetlands. “Protecting existing wetlands is far less expensive than restoring degraded ones,” it notes.
Still, current funding falls short. Wetlands receive less than nine percent of all climate finance directed to nature-based solutions. To meet global climate and biodiversity goals, the report estimates that $275 billion to $550 billion will be needed each year.
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Wetlands
Julie Mulonga, director of Wetlands International Eastern Africa, said progress is possible, but only with urgent action. “The Global Wetland Outlook offers a path forward: urgently scaling up investment in locally led solutions to protect and restore wetlands for people, nature and climate,” she said.
The report comes just ahead of the Ramsar Convention’s 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15), scheduled for July 23 to 31 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Delegates from over 170 countries will meet to address wetland loss and explore new conservation strategies.
The report also warns that the true extent of wetland degradation may be underestimated. Many impacts can only be detected through field surveys, which are lacking in many regions. This means some wetlands may already be in worse condition than reported.
The 2025 Outlook draws on satellite imagery, peer-reviewed research, and economic modelling. It lists major threats as land conversion, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. In some areas, prolonged drought or persistent low-intensity rainfall followed by sudden storms have triggered flash floods, further damaging fragile ecosystems.
In addition to highlighting threats, the report outlines four key priorities: integrating wetlands into national planning, embedding them in climate and biodiversity finance, recognising their role in the global water cycle, and scaling up public and private funding.
Coenraad Krijger, CEO of Wetlands International, said governments must move beyond damage control. “The Global Wetland Outlook is a sobering read, but it does showcase pathways to a brighter future, if we all work together,” he said.
With more than one-fifth of remaining wetlands still at risk, the report stresses that time is running out. The future of food systems, water security, and climate resilience could depend on whether the world acts now to protect its wetlands.
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