Why in news?
The Ramsar Convention released the Global Wetland Outlook 2025, warning that wetlands are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem and urging immediate action to halt the loss.
Key messages of the report
- Rapid decline: Over 35 % of wetlands have been lost since 1970 and they are vanishing three times faster than forests. Some estimates suggest a loss of roughly 0.52 % per year.
- Economic and ecological value: Wetlands occupy only about 6 % of Earth’s land area but provide more than 7.5 % of global GDP through services such as water purification, flood control, fisheries, tourism and carbon storage. The report values lost services at up to US$39 trillion.
- Biodiversity crisis: Populations of wetland species have declined by more than 80 % since 1970. Peatlands, which cover only 3 % of land, store around 30 % of soil carbon.
- Drivers of loss: Conversion to agriculture, urban encroachment, pollution, drainage and climate‑change‑induced drying are major threats. Many Ramsar sites in India, such as Keoladeo and Chilika, face ecological stress.
- Pathways for action: The report suggests four pathways: (1) integrating wetlands into decision‑making by recognising their full value; (2) embedding wetlands in climate and water policies; (3) creating innovative finance mechanisms, including carbon credits, to fund conservation; and (4) mobilising resources for large‑scale restoration.
Importance for India
India has more than 75 Ramsar‑designated wetlands but lacks a unified management authority. Restoring lakes like Loktak, Kolleru and the Sundarbans would protect biodiversity, support livelihoods and strengthen climate resilience. The report calls on India to update its national wetland inventory, include urban and seasonal wetlands under legal protection and involve local communities through initiatives like Wetland Mitras (friends of wetlands).