Protecting Wetlands for a Food-Secure Future

In Zimbabwe, global leaders are gathering for the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15), a critical moment for addressing the pressing issues of food security and environmental resilience. Wetlands play a vital role in food production, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. The connection between wetlands and agriculture is fundamental, as wetlands provide fisheries, irrigation water, and support millions of livelihoods. To truly "Protect Wetlands for Our Common Future," three concrete goals should be focused on: setting clear targets to restore wetlands, creating innovative financing schemes, and integrating wetland protection into national policies.

Key Takeaways:

Wetlands provide critical ecosystem services, including fisheries, irrigation, and flood protection, which are essential for food production and human well-being.
Over 95% of global food production depends on healthy soil and water, both of which are maintained by wetlands.
Wetlands are nature's climate infrastructure, with peatlands storing 30% of the world's soil carbon despite covering only 3% of global land area.
The economic value of wetlands is immense, with benefits of trillions of dollars per year, yet only 0.25% of global wealth is invested in protecting nature.
Restoring and protecting wetlands will require an investment of USD 275-550 billion, roughly half a percent of the world economy.
Developing countries need support for building local capacity and sharing technology to design and implement effective financing mechanisms.
Success in wetland protection requires coordination across government departments and creating systems to track progress and measure impact.

Statistics:

95% of global food production depends on healthy soil and water, maintained by wetlands.
30% of the world's soil carbon is stored in peatlands, which cover only 3% of global land area.
USD 275-550 billion is estimated to be needed for restoring and protecting wetlands.
0.25% of global wealth is currently invested in protecting nature.
75% of the world's accessible freshwater comes from wetland-rich watersheds.

Sources:

(https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/)
(https://www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org/)
(https://www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org/hashtags-and-key-handles-copy)
(https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b256c78e17ba335ea89fe1f/t/6874f234570b8e3be87580e6/1752494651437/GWO2025_eng.pdf)