IUCN calls for concrete solutions to scale up wetland protection and restoration at Ramsar COP15

Over the coming week, representatives of the Ramsar Contracting Parties are expected to adopt the Convention on Wetlands 5th Strategic Plan, which will guide the Convention for the next decade. In its role as a Ramsar International Organisation Partner, IUCN is calling for decisive action to protect, restore and ensure the wise use of wetlands, underscoring the need for measurable, ambitious and science-based targets that align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

“Wetlands are no longer invisible in global agendas. There is growing recognition that they are essential to addressing today’s most urgent challenges – climate change, biodiversity loss, water insecurity and disaster risk,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, in her opening statement to the conference. “And more than that—they are our life support systems. By protecting the wetlands, we ensure the continuation of human development, regional peace and planetary stability.” 

Led by the IUCN Director General, IUCN’s delegation is working alongside Contracting Parties to provide technical guidance, capacity-building and the demonstration of best practices, while hosting a number of side events.

Released just ahead of the conference, the Global Wetland Outlook 2025 provides a stark backdrop for the COP15 talks. The report presents the most comprehensive assessment of the state of wetlands worldwide, highlighting the widespread disappearance of millions of hectares of wetlands due to land-use changes since the 1970s. From marshes to swamps, peatlands and mangroves, all types of natural wetlands have been affected.  

Wetlands deliver up to $39 trillion in benefits to people each year, supporting food security, regulating floods, storing carbon and purifying water. Yet, their rapid decline has had severe consequences for people and biodiversity. One-quarter of freshwater fauna species are threatened with extinction, according to a recent assessment for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM.

For IUCN, bolder and more ambitious action is required to address the primary drivers of wetland loss, such as pollution and the impacts of urban expansion, industrial development and agricultural intensification. Wetlands must be fully integrated into national and sectoral strategies, thereby reconciling wetland conservation with development objectives.  

In wetlands of international importance, also known as Ramsar Sites, management must be strengthened by improving governance, coordination and technical capacity at all levels. Effective management plans should ensure inclusive and equitable governance that empowers marginalised groups, youth, women, Indigenous peoples and local communities.

In line with the ambitious financial targets adopted by the three United Nations Rio Conventions (on biodiversity, climate change and desertification), increased financial resources must be mobilised for wetland conservation, restoration and their wise use – recognising the long-term returns of healthy wetland ecosystems.  

“Wetlands are not marginal lands to be drained and forgotten. They are the living infrastructure of a safe, resilient and sustainable future,” said the IUCN Director General. 

Additional information

For more information about IUCN’s work and events on Water and Wetlands at Ramsar COP15, visit here and follow @IUCN Water and Wetlands on LinkedIn.

For the IUCN Position Paper for Ramsar COP15, visit here.

For the Recommendations from the International Organisation Partners (IOPs) of the Convention on Wetlands, visit here.

Key initiatives supporting the implementation of the Convention on Wetlands:

• Launch of the Southern Africa Ramsar Regional Initiative (SARRI): Established under the Convention on Wetlands to advance wetland conservation across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, SARRI is hosted by the IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO).
• Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative: Hosted by the IUCN Asia Regional Office (ARO), this initiative will present its new Strategic Plan for 2025–2030 during COP15.
• Women’s Leadership in Wetland Conservation: A new granting mechanism under the BRIDGE programme for transboundary water cooperation will be launched during the event Investing in Women's Leadership to Accelerate Wetland Conservation and Wise Use. This initiative focuses on supporting women-led solutions for wetland management and inclusive water governance.
• Contribution to the Freshwater Challenge: As a core partner of the Freshwater Challenge, the Convention on Wetlands plays a vital role in the global initiative, which aims to restore 300,000 kilometres of degraded rivers and 350 million hectares of degraded wetlands by 2030, while securing the protection of freshwater ecosystems important for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The Challenge will be featured as a key effort aligned with the Convention’s mission.
• Synergies with the IUCN Green List: IUCN will lead a discussion on aligning the Ramsar Convention with the Green List for protected and conserved areas, highlighting opportunities for mutual reinforcement.
• International Climate Initiative (IKI) project presentation – Caribbean wetlands: IUCN will present its IKI-funded project on the Wise Use of Caribbean Wetlands, emphasising climate change mitigation and the conservation of vital ecosystem services.